IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


|50    l"*^*      WWM 

^  ^  12.2 
Sf  ^  I™— 
^    US,    12.0 


IJ& 


125  III  U   ,,.6 

-^ 6"     

► 

V] 


7] 


^ 


4^ 


om 


V 


m 


Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


A 


■^ 


\ 


V 


^ 


)3  WBT  MAIN  STRUT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)S72-4S03 


<5p      ^^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  .filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurte  et/ou  pellicula 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avac  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lore  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  dt6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  dt6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquto  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  d6color6es,  tacheties  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

rri  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in^gaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6ti  film6es  d  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th« 
toi 


Th« 
pos 
of  1 
filn 


on 

be( 
the 
sioi 
oth 
firs 
sioi 
or  i 


Th< 
she 
Tl^ 
wh 

Ma 
difl 
enl 
be] 
rigl 
req 
me 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

10X                             14X                             18X                            22X 

26X 

30X 

X 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

>«*-«-V:f^ 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6roslt6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  film^s  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
6'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — *-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  ie 
symbole  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  i  des  taux  de  r6duction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  ie  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Wi 


oi 


JOURNAL, 


or 


A  YOUNG  MAN  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 


I.ATE 


A  STTRGKON  ON  BOARD  AN  AMBRXGAN  FRIVAT$BR, 

•  t&-  ,.  **: 
WHO  WAS  CAFTVBXD  AT  SEA  BT  THE  BRITISH,  VS  MAT,  EIQaTSElT  BVinDBEII- 
AITD  THIBTEEir,  AXJ)  WAS  COStlTXHD  FIBST,  . 

AT  MELVILLE  ISLAND,  HALIFAX,  THEN  AT  CHATHAM, 

IN  ENGLAND, 

AND  LAST,  AT  DARTMOOR  PRISON,   1:  ! 

-    ,-V     ■  V  ^  '"'.'. 

laTEBSFEBBEB  WITH 

OBSERVATIOIi^S,  ANECDOTES  AND  REMARKS, 

,j ...  ■*      TEiroiiro  TO- 

ILLVSTRATE  THB  MORAL  AND  POLITICAL  CHARACTERS 
OF  THREE  NATIONS. 

TO    WHICH  IS  ADDED, 

A  CORRECT  ENGRAVING  OF  DARTMOOR  PRISO%       '• 

B£PRXS£KTI9G  Tfl£  MASSACBS  OF  AMBRICAN  FBISOXSBflb 


(^  ;V^..  .     f     A' 


1  '^ 


'4*   . 


WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF.         ^         •'    >  ;  . 
«  Nothing  extenuate,  or  set  down  aug^t  in  malice.**  r 

....».M.......M.».....SaAXSSFI4B||i^ 


■>  -si*; 


•ii. ' 


BOSTON: 
nUNTED  BY  ROWS  AND  HOOFEB, 


n 


Hi 


1816r 


■J»   «i 


♦ 


...Pffc 


^•. 


■^v  «» 


'  II ■   w.~ 


/ 


I. 


S       ^. 


•1% 


District  of  Massachusetts,  to  wit  / 

District  Cterk't  Ojice. 
BE  it  rememberecl,  that  on  the  sixth  day  of  March,  A    1>, 
(L.  S.)    1816,  and  in  the  fortieth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  of  America,  Rowe  &  Hooter,  of  the  said  District, 
^ave  deposited  in  this  Office,  the  title  of  a  Bocrii,  the  Right  whereof  they 
claim  as  Proprietors,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

**  A  Journal  of  a  Young  Man  of  Massachusetts,  late  a  Surgeon  on  board 
an  American  Privateer,  who  was  captured  at  Sea  by  the  British,  in  May, 
eighteen  hundred  and  thirteen,  and  was  confined  first,  at  Melville  Island, 
Halifax,  then  at  Chatham,  in  England,  and  last  at  Dartmoor  Prison.  In- 
terspersed with  Observations,  Anecdotes  and  Remarks,  tending  to  illus- 
trate the  moral  and  political  characters  of  three  nations.  To  which  is 
added,  acorrect  Engraving  of  Dartmoor  Prison,  representing  the  Massa- 
<■  re  of  American  prisoners'.  Written  by  himself .  "Nothing  extenuatCi 
or  set  down  aught  in  malice." Shakespeare." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled, 
"An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of 
Maps,  Charts  and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies, 
during  the  Times  therein  mentioned ;"  and  also  to  an  Act  entitled,  "  An 
Act  supplementary  to  an  Act,  entitled  an  Act  for  the  encouragement  of 
learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Books,  to  the  authors 
and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  ;  and 
extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and 
etching  historical,  and  other  prints." 

Wm.  S.SHAW, 
Cltrk  of  tht  Diitrict  of  Massachusetts, 


■<firf 


J4* 


V 


••■/: 


TO  THE 


COMMO:^'  SEK'SE, 


AND 


HUMANE  FEELINGS 


OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF  AMERICA, 


THIS  JOURNAL  IS  INSCRIBED,' 


.!*'- 


BT 


rtma^^.       / 


A  LATE  PRISONER  OP  WAR  WITH  THE  BRITISH. 


'  ,  :>^- 


Massachusetts^  County  cfi 
Hampshirct  181^.       \ 


%-^^- 


m 


'■^•A:/'' 


^M. 


-..mi' 


vt 


^^ 


:^*^ 


^^ 


JOURNAL. 


-*'  * 


In  December,  1812,  I  found  u  scliooner  fitting  out  of 
Salem,  as  a  privateer.  She  had  only  four  carriage  guns 
and  ninety  men.  By  the  fifth  of  January,  1813,  she  was 
ready  to  sail,  and  only  wanted  some  young  man  to  go  as 
assistant  surgeon  of  her.  The  offer  was  made  to  me, 
when  without  much  reflection,  or  consultation  of  friends, 
I  stepped  on  board  her  in  that  capacity,  with  no  other 
ideas  than  that  of  a  pleasant  cruise,  and  making  a  for- 
tune. With  this  in  view  we  steered  for  the  coast  of  Bra- 
J^ils,  whteh  we  reached  about  the  first  of  February. 

Our  first  land-fall  was  not  the  most  judicious,  for  we 
made  the  coast  in  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  found 
ourselves  surrounded  with  breakers.  Fortunately  for  us,, 
a  Portuguese  schooner  was  outside  of  us,  and  we  hoisted!', 
out  our  boat,  and  went  on  board  her ;  and  received  from 
her  commander  and  officers  directions  for  clearing  our- 
selves from  these  dangerous  breakers.  We  were  then 
about  60  miles  below  Cape  St.  Roque.  The  ccptaii'  of 
the  Portuguese  vessel  kindly  informed  us  wh'  '-^  to  get 
water,  in  a  bay  then  before  us.  We  had  English  colours 
flying,  and  all  this  time  passed  for  a  British  vessel. 

In  a  few  hours  we  cast  anchor  in  the  bay,  when  ouf,^ 
Captain  went  on  shore  ;  and  when  he  had  discovered  the 
watering  place,  he  returned  on  board,  and  sent  big  wa- 
ter ca»ks  to  be  filled ;  but  the  inhabitants  collected  arsund 
our  men,  and  shewed,  by  their  gestures  and  grimaces,  a» 
disposition  to  drive  us  away.  It  is  probable  that  they  only 
wanted  to  make  us  pay  for  the  water ;  for  it  is  the  way 
of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  sea  shores  every  where,  to 
profit  by  the  distresses  of  those  who  ar«  cast  upo^  them. 
But  pretending  not  to  understand  them,  we  got  what  water 
was  necessary. 

I  he  next  day  a  Portuguese  ship  of  war  came  into  the 
bay,  on  which  we  thought  it  prudent  to  haul  off,  as  we 
thongbt  it  not  so  easy  to  impose  on  a  public  ship  as  a 

.„.*  1  -  . 


JOUliNAL. 


Erivate  one,  rviili  our  English  colours  and  uuirorm.  In 
eatin:;  up  to  Pernambuco  we  spoke  witii  vessels  every 
day,  but  they  were  all  Portuguese.  When  near  to  St.  Sal- 
vadore,  we  were  in  great  danger  of  capture  by  a  Britisli 
frigate,  whom  we  mistook  for  a  large  merchantman,  until 
she  came  within  half  musket  shot  of  us,  but,  luckily  for 
us,  it  died  away  calm,  when  we  out  with  our  oars,  which 
seamen  eall  sweeps,  and  in  spite  of  their  round  and  grape 
shot  we  got  clear  of  her  without  anv  serious  injury. 

We  would  remark  here,  that  sailors  have  a  dialect  of 
their  own,  and  a  phraseology  by  themselves.  Instead  of 
right  side,  and  left  side,  they  say  starboard,  and  larboard. 
To  tie  a  rone  fast,  is  to  belay  it.  To  lower  down  a  sail, 
or  to,,pull  down  a  colour,  is  to  dowse  it,  and  so  of  many 
other  things.  These  peculiar  phrazes  have  been  adopted 
fk'om  the  Dutch,  and  from  the  Danes,  nations  iVom  M'hom 
the  English  learnt  na;rigation.  We  may  occasionally  use 
some  of  these  terms,  when  it  cannot  well  be  avoided. 

Our  Captain  was  not  an  American,  neither  was  he  an 
Englishman.  He  was  a  little  bit  of  a  man,  of  a  swarthy 
complexion,  and  did  not  weigh  perhaps  more  than  an  hun- 
dred pounds  by  the  scale.  During  the  firing  our  little 
man  stood  upon  the  taffrail,  swung  his  sword,  d — d  the 
English  and  praised  his  own  men.  He  had  been  long 
enough  in  the  United  States  to  acquire  property  and  infor- 
mation, and  credit  enough  to  command  a  schooner  of  four 
guns  and  ninety  men.  The  crew  considered  him  a  brave 
man  and  a  good  sailor,  but  not  over  generous  in  his  dis- 
position. Whether  the  following  is  a  proof  of  it,  I  can- 
not determine. 

He  allowed  the  crew  but  one  gill  of  New  England  rum 
per  day,  which  they  thought  an  under  dose  for  a  Yankee. 
They  contended  for  more,  but  he  refused  it.  They  expbs- 
tulated,  and  he  remained  obstinate;  when  at  lenstfa,  they, 
one  and  all,  declared  that  they  would  not  tolieh  a  rope 
unless  he  agreed  to  double  the  allowance,  to  half  a  pint. 
The  Captain  was  a  very  abstemious  man  himself,  and 
heing  very  small  in  person,  he  did  not  consider  that  %man 
four  times  as  big  required  twice  as  much  rum  to  keep  his 
sluggish  frame  in  the  sanne  degree  of  good  spirits.  He 
held  out  against  his  crew  for  two  days,  during  which  time 
they  never  one  of  them  so  much  as  lifted  a  spun  yam*  The ' 
weather  was^  be  sure,  very  mild  and  pleasant^    I  confess. 


JOURNAL^ 


form.  In 
sels  every 
to  St.  Sal- 
a  British 
man,  until 
uckiiy  for 
irs,  >vhieh 
and  grape 
ury. 

dialect  of 
Instead  of 
larboard, 
ivn  a  sail, 
) of  many 
n  adopted 
'om  whom 
Dnally  use 
Ided. 

vas  he  an 
1  swarthy 
n  an  hun- 
our  little 
d— d  the 
been  long 
and  infor- 
er  of  four 
n  a  brave 
n  his  dis- 
it,  I  can- 


however,  that  I  was  very  uneasy,  under  the  idea  that  we 
mi,^ht  all  perish  from  the  obstinacy  of  the  crew,  on  one 
side,  and  th«  firmness  of  the  little  man  on  the  other.  Our 
Captain  found  that  his  government  was  democratieal ; 
and  perceiving  that  the  weather  was  about  to  change,  he 
conceded  to  the  large  and  fearful  majority,  and  New  Eng- 
land spirit  carried  the  day  against  a  temperate  European 
eommander. 

This  habit  of  rum  drinking  makes  a  striking  diiference 
between  the  military  of  ancient  and  modern  days.  If  a 
Roman  soldier  or  a  Carthagenian  sailor,  had  his  cloathing, 
his  meat,  and  his  bread,  and  his  vinegar,  he  was  content- 
ed, and  rarely  was  guilty  of  mutiny.  But  the  modern 
soldier  and  sailer  must,  in  addition  to  these,  have  his  rum, 
or  brandy,  and  his  tobacco ;  and  deprive  him  of  these  two 
articles,  which  are  neither  food,  nor  clothing,  and  he  in- 
fallibly mutinies  ;  that  is,  he  runs  the  risk  of  the  severest 
punishment,  even  that  of  death,  rather  than  renounce 
them.  I  have  observed  among  sailors,  that  they  bear  the 
deprivation  of  rum  with  more  patience  than  the  depriva- 
tion of  tobacco.  On  granting  the  crew  half  a  pint  of  rum 
a  day,  they  gave  three  cheers,  and  went  to  work  with  the 
greatest  eheerfuluess  and  alacrity. 

The  next  day  we  descried  three  sail  steering  for  St. 
Salvadore.  We  gave  chaee  to  them,  but  when  we  came 
within  gun  shot  of  the  stern  most,  she  fired  her  stern 
ohacers  at  us.  We  brought  our  four  guns  on  one  side  to 
attack,  or  to  defend  ourselves,  as  we  should  find  ourselves 
circumstan'^ed  $  but  night  coming  on,  we  saw  no  more  of 
them. 

Our  water  growing  short,  we  determined  to  gain  our 
former  watering  place ;  but  not  being  able  to  reach  it  easi- 
ly, we  anchored  off  a  little  settlement,  20  miles  distant 
from  the  place  where  we  watered  before.  Here  our  cap- 
tain put  on  a  British  uniform,  and  waited  on  the  com- 
mandant of  the  place,  who,  although  h^  treated  him  with 
politeness,  gave  evident  suspicions  thkt  he  was  not  art 
English  oificer.  To  prevent  the  awkward  consequences 
of  a  detection,  our  captain  promised  to  send  off  a  barrel 
of  hams,  and  a  ke^  of  butter.  Under  the  expectation  of 
the  fulfilment  of  this  rather  rash  promise,  our  crafty  com- 
mander returned  to  his  vessel,  and  left  the  place  yerj  early 


9ext  mornins:. 


'^^^■ 


•»*,■-}■ 


8  JOURNAL. 

It  was  HOW  the  middle  of  March,  and  we  had  taken 
nothing,  nuither  had  wc  fired  our  cannon  excepting  at  a 
miserable  sort  of  a  half  boat  and  haif  raft,  called  a  Cuta- 
maran,  made  of  five  light  logs,  with  a  triangular  sail. 
■IVom  the  men  on  this  miserable  vessel  we  got  informatiou 
uf  a  good  watering  place,  where  we  soon  anchored.  The 
commandant  of  this  little  settlement  was  of  the  colour  of  our 
jVorth  American  Indians,  and  so  were  his  family,  but  the 
rest  were  nearly  as  black  as  nvgroes.     lie  lived  in  a  house 


covered  and  worked  in  with 


long 


gras 


s ;  he  offered    u» 


snuft'  out  of  a  box  tipped  with  silver,  but  every  thing  else 
looked  very  rude  and  simple.  While  we  were  getting  our 
water,  the  females  hovered  round  us.  They  had  long 
black  and  shining  hair,  and  wore  a  long  white  cotton 
garment,  like  a  shirt  or  shift.  They  seemed  to  admire 
our  complexions.  One  of  these  women,  more  forward 
than  the  rest,  opened  the  bosom  of  one  of  our  fairest 
young  men,  to  see  if  his  body  was  as  white  as  his  face. 
She  appeared  to  be  highly  amased  with  the  discovery,  and 
called  her  companions  to  come  and  view  the  phenomenon. 
He  shewed  a  similar  curiosity  as  it  concerned  her,  but  she 
shrunk  from  it  with  the  apparent  delicacy  of  polished 
life,  before  so  many  men. 

Just  as  we  were  about  embarking,  the  commandant  told 
our  captain  that  he  had  just  received  a  message  from  the 
commandant  of  Gomura,  to  seize  him  and  all  his  crew  and 
send  them  to  Pernambueo,  but  that  he  should  not  obey  him. 
AVe  now  set  sail  for  the  Ut4ited  States,  and  had  not  been  at 
sea  long  before  we  were  chased  by  a  frigate,  but  out  saiU 
ed  her. 

On  th«  20th  of  May  we  made  Gay  Head,  which  is  the 
shining  remains  of  an  extinguished  Voloano,  on  the  west 
end  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  The  next  morning  we  discov- 
ered a  ship  and  a  brig  standing  for  us.  We  tacked  and 
stood  for  the  ship  until  we  found  that  she  was  a  man  of 
war,  and  then  wo  wore  round  fur  the  brig,  she  being  near- 
est uf  our  own  size.  We  now,  for  the  first  time,  hoisted 
American  colours,  when  the  brig  gave  us  a  broadside ; 
and  kept  up  a  constant  fire  upon  us,  but  we  soon  left  her 
by  our  superior  sailing  and  management.  The  frigate, 
fur  such  she  proved  to  be,  was  not  so  easily  got  rid  of. 
Stie  was  to  the  winduard  of  us  when  we  first  saw  her. 
She  eume  within  gun  shot  about  noon.    She  firing  her 


JOURNAL. 


[iad  taken 
ptiii];  at  a 
;il  a  Cuta- 
;ular  sail, 
ifuriuatiou 
red.  Thtt 
lour  of our 
ly,  but  the 
in  a  house 
nflferud  ua 
thin,^  else 
;ettiii^  our 
had  long 
lite  cotton 
to  admire 
B  forward 
»ur  fairest 
\  his  face, 
overy,  and 
enomenon. 
er,  but  she 
r  polished 

udant  told 

from  the 

crew  and 

obey  him. 

ot  been  at 

out  sail- 

|ieh  is  the 

the  west 
re  discov- 

;ked  and 
la  man  of 
fingnear- 
r,  boidted 
poadside ; 
left  her 
frigate, 

^t  rid  of. 

law   her. 

ring  her 


Tjow-cliaccrs  and  we  our  stern-chacers.  At  lena;t!i  slie 
came  almoiit  within  musket  shot  of  us,  when  she  fired  re- 
peated broadsides  into  our  little  schooner,  so  as  to  cut 
away  almost  all  our  rit^giu:;,  when  our  bravo  little  captain 
went  down  lelow,  after  telling  the  men  to  light  it  out ; 
but  they  prudently  struck  their  colours.  A  boat  soou 
came  on  board  of  us  with  a  Lieutenant  and  twelve  ma- 
rines, swearing  most  bravely  at  the  d— d  Yankees.  But 
as  our  men  had*  according  to  custom,  when  a  vessel  sur- 
renders, seized  whatever  casks  of  liquor  they  could  come 
at,  soon  filled  out  a  few  horns  of  gin,  and  passed  it  round 
among  the  marines,  which  inspired  them  with  good  na- 
ture, and  for  a  moment,  they  seemed  **  all  hale  fellows 
well  met."  The  boarding  olhcer  did  not  appear  toH9o  so 
intent  in  securing  the  vessel,  as  in  searching  every  hole 
and  corner  for  small  articles  to  pocket.  Wc  were  soon 
ordered  on  board  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  the  Tene' 
dosy  Cant.  Parker. 

I  had  always  entertained  a  respectable  opinion  of  the 
British,  especially  of  their  national  marine.  I  had  read 
British  history,  and  listened  to  British  songs,  and  had 
heard  from  my  childhood  of  the  superior  bravery  and  gen- 
erosity of  the  Britiih  sailor,  and  had  entertained  a  real 
respect  for  their  character;  and  being  of  a  family  denom- 
inated federalists,  I  may  be  said  to  have  entered  the  fri- 
gate Tenedos,  Capt.  Parker,  with  feelings  and  expecta- 
tions very  different  from  what  I  should  have  felt,  had  wu 
been  at  war  with  the  French,  and  had  it  been  a  frigate  of 
that  nation  that  had  captured  u».    The  Frepch  are  a  peo- 

Sle  marked  by  nature  as  well  as  by  eustoms  and  habits,  a 
ifferent  nation  from  us.  Their  language  is  different ; 
their  religion  is  different,  and  so  are  their  manners.  All 
these  things  have  conspired  in  making  a  wall  of  separa- 
tion between  us  and  that  lively  people.  Bat  it  is  not  so 
with  the  English.  Our  language,  religion,  customs,  ha- 
bits, manners,  institutions ;  and  above  all,  books  have 
united  to  make  us  feel  as  if  we  were  but  children  ^f  the 
same  great  family,  only  divided  by  the  Atlantic  oeean. 
All  these  things  have  a  natural  and  habitual  tendency  td 
unite  us,  and  nothing  but  the  unfeeling  and  eontemptuons 
treatment  of  us'hy  the  British  military  generally,  eould 
have  separated  us.  With  all  these  feelings  and  partiali- 
ties about  nie,  I  went  from  our  sebooner  over  the  fide  of 


10 


JOUHNAL. 


the  British  frigate  with  different  feelings  from  what  I 


should,  had  I  been  goin^  iu  buard  an  enemies  ship  of  thu 
French,  Spanish,  or  Purttiguese  nation.  But  what  wah 
my  change  of  feelings,  on  being  driven  with  the  rest  all 
lip  in  a  corner  like  hogs,  and  then  marched  about  the 
deck,  for  the  strutting  captain  of  the  frigate  to  view  and 
review  us  like  cattle  iu  a  market  bcfure  the  drover  or 
butcher. 

When  our  baggage  ivas  brought  on  board,  the  master  of 
arms  took  every  portable  article  from  us,  not  leaving  us  a 
jack  knife,  penknife  or  razor.  We  Americans  never 
conduct  so  towards  British  prisoners.  We  always  respect 
the  private  articles  of  the  oflieer  and  sailor. 

OjH  the  same  day  we  were  put  ott  board  the  brig  Curlew, 
Lt.  Head,  a  polite  and  humane  gentleman,  and  much  be- 
ioved  by  his  own  crev^'.  He  is,  1  am  informed,  son  of  an 
English  Baronet.  He  is  a  plain,  honest  man,  with  easy, 
elegant  manners,  and  very  unlike  the  sputtering  com- 
mander of  the  Tenedos,  a  man  who  allowed  us  to  be  strip- 
]»ed  of  all  our  little  pocket  articles.  We  were  kept  very 
close  while  on  board  the  Curlew,  because  her  crew  was 
very  weak,  principally  decrepid  old  men  and  boys,  but 
tiien  we  were  kindly  spoken  to,  and  nespectfully  and  hu- 
manely treated  by  Lieut.  Head,  and  his  worthy  surgeon. 
We  can  discover  real  gt^'ntlemcn  at  sen,  as  well  as  on 
shore. 

We  were  landed  in  Halifax,  the  principal  British 
jiort  of  North  America,  and  the  capital  of  Nova  Scotia,  on 
the  29th  of  May,  1813.  We  were  soon  surrounded  by 
:'<oldiers,  and  being  joined  by  a  number  of  our  countrymen, 
recently  captured^  we  were  attempted  to  be  marshalled  and 
paraded  in  military  order,  so  as  to  make  as  grand  a  show 
as  pogsible,  as  we  marched  through  the  streets  to  prison. 
The  first  thing  they  did  was  to  make  us  stand  in  platoons, 
and  then  the  commanding  officer  stationed  a  soldier  on  the 
ITanks  uf  each  platoon  to  keep  us  regular,  and  to  march 
and  wheel  according  to  rule.  The  word  was  then  given 
to  mareh,  when  we  all  ran  up  together  just  as  we  were 
when  the  strutting  Capt.  Parker  reviewed  us  on  the  deck 
of  the  Tenedos.  "We  were  then  commanded  to  halt.  As 
we  have  no  such  word  of  command  on  hoard  of  an  Ameri- 
can privateer,  some  crowded  on,  while  a  few  stopped. 
The  young  officer  tried  again;  and  made  us  stand  a|l  ii^  nt 


JOUaNAL. 


ii 


I  what  I 
\[i  of  the 
k'hat  waiit 
)  rest  all 
ibout  the 
view  and 
Irover  or 

master  of 
v'ing  us  a 
IS  never 
'9  respect 

J  Curlew, 

much  be> 

son  of  an 

I'ith  easy, 

ing  coui- 

I  be  strip- 

cept  very 

erevv  Mas 

[)ojs,  but 

and  hu- 

surgeoH. 

11  as  on 

Britisli 
cotia,  on 
inded  by 
ntrymen, 
illed  and 
I  a  show 
0  prison, 
tiatoons, 
ir  on  the 

march 
n  given 
we  were 
the  deck 
alt.     As 

Araeri- 

topped. 

All  ii^  ^ 


row.  Some  of  the  crew  told  their  vjomrades  that  when  the 
captain  sung  out  '•  ^a/^'  he  meant  •'  avmtf"  and  that  then 
they  should  ail  stop.  When  we  were  all  in  order  as;ain, 
the  searlet-eoaled  young  gentleman,  with  a  golden  swash 
on  his  left  shoulder,  gave  a  second  time  the  word  of  com* 
Diund— •"  march" — when  we  got  into  the  like  confusion, 
a»*ain,  when  be  cried  out  in  a  swearing  passion,  ^^  halt"~^ 
on  which  ssome  stopped  short,  and  some  walked  on,  when 
the  whole  squad  burst  out  a  laughing.  I  know  not  what 
would  have  been  the  consequence  of  his  passion  had  not  a 
navy  officer  standing  by  observed  to  him,  that  they  were 
not  soldiers  but  sailors,  who  knew  nothing  about  military 
marching,  or  military  words  of  command,  when  the  young 
man  tuld  us  to  march  on  in  our  own  way  ;  upon  which 
our  sailors  stuck  their  iisls  in  their  pockets,  and  scrabbled 
and  reeled  on  as  sailors  always  do  ;  for  a  sailor  does  not 
know  how  to  walk  like  a  landsman.  On  which  account  I 
have  been  informed,  since  my  return  from  captivity,  that 
all  our  seamen,  that  were  sent  from  Boston  to  Sackeit's 
harbour,  on  Lake  Ontario,  were  transported  in  coaches 
with  four  horses,  chartered  for  the  express  purpose;  and 
that  it  was  common,  for  many  weeks  together,  to  see  st 
dozen  of  the  large  stage  coaclies.  setting  out  from  Boston 
in  a  morning,  full  of  sailors  going  up  to  the  lakes,  to  maa 
the  fleets  of  Commodores  Perry,  Chauncey  and  M*Do- 
Mough.  The  former  of  these  commanders  told  the  writer, 
that  he  never  allowed  a  sailor  destined  for  his  squadron 
to  walk  a  single  day.  -  These  merry  fellows  used  to  ride 
through  the  country  with  their  colours  and  streamers  and 
music,  and  heaving  the  lead  amidst  the  acclamations  of 
the  country  people.  While  these  things  were  thus  con- 
ducted in  New  England,  tlie  people  of  Old  England  were 
simple  enough  to  believe  that  the  war  with  England  was 
unpopular.  They  judged  of  us  by  uur  party  newspapers. 
The  soldiers  marched  us  about  two  miles,  wh<^n  we 
came  to  the  spot,  where  we  were  to  take  boat  for  M«lvillo 
Island,  the  place  of  our  imprisonment.  When  we  arrived 
at  the  gates  of  the  prison,  hammocks  and  blankets  were 
served  out  to  us,  as  our  names  were  culled  over.  We 
were  then  ordered  into  the  prison  yard.  And  here  I  must 
remark,  that  I  shall  never  forget  the  first  impression, 
which  the  sight  of  my  wretched  looking  oountry men  made 
o»  my  feelings.    H«re  we  were;  i^t  once;  sarrouuded  by  a 


u 


JOURNAL. 


il 


rap^gedset  of  quidnuncs^  eagerly  inquiring,  PVhat  news  ''?-^ 
where  we  were  taken  ?  and  how  ?  and  what  success  we 
had  met  with  before  we  were  taken  P  and  every  possible 
question,  for  American  curiosity  to  put  to  a  promiscuous 
set  of  new  comers.  > 

After  satisfying  these  brave  fellows,  who  felt  an  uucom» 
mon  interest  in  the  events  of  the  war,  and  the  news  of  the 
day,  I  had  time  to  notice  the  various  occupations  of  these 
poor  fellows.  Some  were  washing  their  own  clothes  ; 
others  mending  them.  Others  were  intent  on  ridding  their 
shirts  and  other  clothing  from  lice,  w  hich,  to  the  disgrace 
of  the  British  government,  are  allowed  to  infest  our  pris- 
oners. It  may,  in  part,  be  owing  to  the  nastiness  and  neg- 
ligence of  the  prisoners  themselves,  but  the  great  fault 
and  the  disgrace,  remain  with  the  British.  Whoever 
could  say  that  criminals,  confined  in  our  State  prisons, 
were  infected  with  vermin  ?  Were  our  prison  ships  in 
Boston  or  Salem  ever  known  to  be  lousy  P 

The  buildings  on  Melville  Island  are  constructed  of 
wood.  Beside  the  prison,  there  is  a  cooking  house,  bar- 
racks for  soldiers,  and  a  storehouse ;  a  bouso  for  the  ofli- 
eers,  and  another  for  the  surgeon.  There  are  a  couple  of 
cannon  pointing  towards  the  prison,  and  a  Telegraph,  for 
tho  purpose  of  giving  intelligence  to  the  fort,  which  over- 
looks this  island  and  the  town  of  Halifax.  These  bnild- 
ings  are  painted  red,  and  have  upon  the  whole,  a  neat  ap- 
pearance. The  prison  itself  is  200  feet  in  length,  and  50 
in  breadth.  It  is  two  stories  high  ;  the  upper  one  is  for 
officers,  and  for  the  infirmary  and  dispensary  ;  while  the 
lower  part  is  divided  into  two  prisons,  one  for  the  French, 
the  other  for  Americans.  The  prison  yard  is  little  more 
than  an  acre,  the  whole  island  being  little  more  than  five 
acres.  It  is  connected  on  the  south  side  with  the  main 
land  by  a  bridge.  The  parade,  so  called,  is  between  the 
Turnkey's  house  and  tho  barracks.  From  all  w  ch  it 
may  be  gathered  that  Melville  Island  is  a  very  humble 
garrison,  and  a  very  dreary  spot  for  the  offieer  who  com- 
mands there. 

The  Tiew  from  the  prison  exhibit?  a  range  of  dreary 
hillt.  On  the  northern  side  are  a  few  scattered  dwellingf, 
and  tome  attemptt  at  cultivation ;  on  the  southern  noth« 
ing  appears  but  immense  piles  of  rooks,  with  bushes,  scat- 
tered here  and  there  iu  their  hollows  and  erevi«es ;  if  their 


JOURNAL. 


ts 


t  news  ? — 
uccess  we 
y  possible 
Dmiacuodg 

in  uucom- 
w  9  of  the 
s  of  these 

clothes  ; 
Hng  their 
!  disg^race 
our  pris- 
and  nen;- 
eat  fault 
Whoever 

prisons, 
ships  ill 

ucted  of 
^se,  bar- 
the  om- 
souple  of 
aph,  for 
en  over- 
$e  build< 
neat  ap- 
)  and  do 
e'is  for 
hile  the 
French, 
le  more 
lan  fiv& 
e  main 
pen  the 
ch  it 
humble 
0  com- 

dreary 
llingt, 
\  noth^r. 
I)  seat* 
f  their 


summer  appearance  conveys  the  idea  of  barrenness,  their 
winter  appearance  must  be  dreadful  in  this  re8;iun  of  al- 
most everlastins  frost  and  snow.  This  unfruitful  country 
is  ri;!;hlly  named  JWu;  Scotland.  Barren  and  unfruitful  as 
old  Scotland  is,  our  JSTova  Scotia  is  worse.  If  Churcliili 
were  alive,  what  might  he  not  say  of  this  rude  and  unfin- 
ished part  of  creation,  that  glories  in  the  name  of  New 
•Scotland  ?  The  picture  would  here  b«  complete  if  it 
were  set  otT  with  here  and  there  a  meagre,  and  dried  up 
highlander,  without  shoes,  stockings  or  breeches,  with  a 
ragged  plaid,  a  little  blue  flat  bonnet,  sitting  on  a  bleak 
rock  playing  a  bag-pipe,  and  singing  the  glories  of  a 
country  that  never  was  conquered  !  To  finish  the  picture, 
you  have  to  imagine  a  dozen  more  ragged  raw  boned 
Scotchmen,  sitting  on  the  bare  rocks  around  the  piper, 
knitting  stockings  to  send  to  England  and  America,  where 
they  can  afford  to  wear  them.  Such  is  Scotia  old  and 
new,  whose  sous  are  remarkable  for  their  inveterate  ha- 
tred of  the  Americans,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  course  of  thi» 
narrative. 

As  to  the  inside  of  the  prison  at  Melville  Island,  if  the 
American  reader  expects  to  hear  it  represented  as  a  place 
resembling  tiie  large  prisons  for  criminals  in  the  United 
States,  such  as  those  at  Boston,  Charlestown,  New  York, 
or  rhiiadelphia,  he  will  be  sadly  disappointed.  Some  of' 
these  prisons  are  as  clean,  and  nearly  as  comfortable,  as 
some  of  the  monasteries  and  convents  in  Europe.  Our 
new  prisons  in  the  United  States  retlect  great  honour  on 
the  nation.  They  speak  loudly  that  we  are  a  considerate 
and  humane  people ;  whereas  the  prison  at  Halifax, 
erected  solely  for  the  safe  keeping  of  prisoners  of  war, 
resembles  an  horse  stable,  with  stalls,  or  stanchions,  for 
separating  the  cattle  from  each  other.  It  is  to  a  contriv- 
ance of  this  sort  that  they  attach  the  eords  that  support 
those  canvass  bags,  or  cradles,  called  hammocks.  Four 
tier  of  these  hanging  nests  were  made  to  swing  one  above 
another,  between  these  stalls  or  stanchions.  To  those  un- 
used to  these  lofty  sleeping-births,  they  were  rather  un- 
pleasant situations  for  repose.  But  use  makes  every  thing 
easy. 

The  first  time  I  was  shut  up  for  the  night,  in  this  prison, 
it  distressed  me  too  much  to  cUse  my  eyes.  Its  closeness 
and  smell  were,  in  a  degree,  disagreeable,  but  this  wan 


Ill 


JOURNAL. 


r* 


I 


trifling  (o  what  I  experienced  afterwards,  in  another  place. 
The  general  hum  and  confused  noise  from  almost  every 
hammock  was  at  first,  very  distressing.  Some  would  be 
lamenting  their  hard  fate  at  being  shut  up  like  negro 
slaves  in  a  guinea  ship,  or  like  fowls  in  a  hen  coop,  fur 
no  crime,  but  for  fighting  the  battles  of  their  country. 
Some  were  cursing  and  execrating  their  oppressors ;  oth- 
ers, late  at  night,  were  relating  their  adventures  to  a  new 
prisoner ;  others  lamenting  their  aberrations  from  recti- 
tude, and  disobedience  to  parents,  and  head  strong  wiiful- 
aess,  that  drove  them  to  sea,  contrary  to  their  parents 
wish,  while  others,  of  the  younger  class,  were  sobbing  out 
their  lamentations  at  the  thoughts  of  what  their  mothers 
and  sisters  suffered,  after  knowing  of  their  imprisonment. 
Not  unfrequently  the  whole  night  was  spent  in  this  way, 
and  when,  about  day  break,  the  weary  prisoner  fell  into  a 
dose,  he  was  waked  from  his  slumber  by  the  grinding  noisa 
of  the  locks,  and  the  unbarring  of  the  doors,  with  the  cry 
of  <'  turn  out-— all  out'*  when  each  man  took  down  his  ham- 
mock and  lashed  it  up,  and  slung  it  on  his  back,  and  was 
ready  to  answer  to  the  roll-call  of  the  turnkey.  If  any^ 
through  natural  heaviness  or  indisposition,  was  dilatory, 
he  was  sure  to  feel  the  bayonet  of  the  brutal  soldier,  who 
appeared  to  us  to  have  a  natural  antipathy  to  a  sailor,  and 
from  what  I  observed,  I  believe  that  in  general  little  or  no 
love  is  lost  between  them. 

This  prison  is  swept  out  twice  a  week,  by  the  prisoners. 
The  task  is  performed  by  the  respective  messes  in  turtas. 
When  the  prison  is  gashed,  the  prisoners  are  kept  out 
until  it  is  perfectly  dry.  This,  in  the  wet  seasons,  and  in 
the  severity  of  winter,  Is  sometimes  very  distressing  and 
dangi  ;oKS  to  health ;  for  there  i^  no  retiring  place  for 
shelter  j— -it  is  like  a  stable,  where  the  cattle  are  either 
under  cover,  or  exposed  to  the  weather,  be  it  ever  so  in- 
clement. 

'  When  we  arrived  here  in  May,  1813,  there  were  about 
nine  hundred  prisoners  ;  but  many  died  by  the  severity  of 
the  winter;  and  the  quantity  of  fnel  allowed  by  the  Brit- 
ish government  was  insufficient  to  convey  warmth  through 
the  prison.  The  men  were  cruelly  harrassed  by  the  bar- 
barous custom  of  mustering  and  parading  them  in  the  se- 
verest cold,  and  even  in  snow  storms.  T^e  agent,  Miller, 
jnight  have  alleviated  the  sufferings  of  our  people^  had  ho 


^M 
P/ 
lal 
ful 
inj 
;m! 

nhj 


JOURNAL. 


If 


another  place. 

almost  every 
ome  would  be 
up  like  negro 

hen  coop,  fur 
their  country* 
pressors;  oth- 
tures  to  a  new 
lis  from  recti - 
strong  wilful- 
their  parents 
re  sobbing  out 
their  mothers 
imprisonment. 

in  this  way, 
ii«r  fell  into  a 
grinding  noisa 
(  with  the  cry 
own  his  ham- 
Ack,  and  was 
^ey.  If  any, 
was  dilatory, 
soldier,  who 
a  sailor,  and 
il  little  or  no 

he  prisoners. 

ses  in  turtas. 

ire  kept  out 

Lsons,  and  in 

ressing  and 

g  place  for 

5  are  either 

ever  so  in- 

were  about 
severity  of 
Y  the  Brit- 
ith  through 
>y  the  bar- 
in  the  se- 
int,  Miller^ 
ile,^  had  ho 


been  so  disposed,  without  relaxation  of  duty.     Bu<  he, 
as  well  as  the  turnkey,  named  Grunt,  seemed  to  take  dcr 
I  light  in  tormenting  the  Americans.     This  man  would  often 
[keep  the  prisoners  out  for  many  hours,  in  the  severest 
I  weather,  when  the  mercury  was  ten  and  fifteen  degrees  be- 
llow 0,  under  a  pretext  that  the  prison  had  been  washed, 
land  was  not  sufficiently  dry  for  their  reception,  when  in 
f  fact,  every  drop  of  water  used,  was  in  a  moment  ice. 
People  in  the  southern  states,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Eng- 
land and  Ireland,  can  form  no  adequate  idea  of  the  fright- 
ful climate  of  Nova  Scotia.     The  description  of  the  suft'er- 
ings  of  our  poor  fellows,  the  past  winter,  was  enough  to 
;make  ones  heart  ache,  and  to  rouse  our  indignation  against 
i  the  agents  in  this  business. 

Our  people  are  sensible  to  kind  treatment,  and  are  ready 
^  to  acknowledge  humane  and  considerate  conduct  towards 
I  themselves,  or  towards  their  companions ;  but  they  are 
I  resentful  in  proportion  as  they  are  grateful.     They  speak 
1  very  generaJly  of  the  conduct  of  Miller  the  agent,  and 
Grant    the  turnkey,  with  disgust  and  resentment.      A 
complaint,  was  made  to  him  of  the  badness  of  the  beef 
served  out  to  the  prisoners,  upon  which  he  collected  the 
prisoners,  and  mounted  the  stair-case,  began  a  most  pas- 
sionate harrangue,  declaring  that  the  beef  was  good  enough, 
iland  ad — d  deal  better  than  they  had  in  their  own  coun- 
^try,  and  if  they  did  not  eat  it,  they  should  have  none.     He 
S  then  went    on  as   follows :-— <<  Hundreds  of    yon,    d— d 
"  sereundrels,  have  been  to  me  begging  and  pleading  that 
*<  I  would  interpose  my  influence  that  you  might  be  the 
<<  first  to  be  exchanged,  to  return  home  to  your  families, 
M^'  who  were  starving  in  your  absence,  and  now  you  have 
M<'  the  impudence  to  tell  me  to  my  faee,  that  the  King's 
I"  beef  is  not  good  enough  for  your  dainty  stomach.    Why 
'^^'  some  of  that  there  beef  is  good  enough  for  me  to  eat. 
f"  You  are  a  set  of  mean  rascals,you  beg  of  an  enemy  the  fa- 
I**  vours  which  your  own  government  won't  grant  you    You 
g"  complain  of  ill  treatment,  when  you  never  fared  better  in 
§ ''  your  lives.     Had  yon  been  in  a  French  prison  and  fed  on 
^  "  horse-beef,  you  would  have  some  grounds  of  complaint) 
^  "  but  here  in  his  Brittanick  Majesty's  royal  prison,  yon 
'"  "  have  every  thing  that  is  right  ana  proper  for  persons 
"  taken  lighting  against  his  erown  and  dignity.     There 
"  is  a  surgeon  liere  for  y©tt,  if  you  are  sick,  and  physiclj: 


n 


'  i 


V 


{\  ' 


h 


i« 


jotjrkal; 


<•'  to  iulce  if  yon  arc  sick,  and  a  hospital  to  go  to  into  tlie 
bars;aiii,  ami  if  you  die,  there  are  boanU  enough  (point- 


ii 

"  nig  10  a  pile  oi  lunitter  in  tne  yaru)  tur  to  make  you 
'^  eotlins,  and  an  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  to  hnry 
*^you  in  :  and  if  you  are  not  satisfied  >vith  all  this  you  may 
"  die  and  be  d — d/' — Having  finished  (his  eloquent 
harrangue,  orator  Miller  descended  from  his  rostrum,  and 
strutted  out  of  the  prison  yard,  accompanied  with  hisses 
from  some  of  the  prisoners. 

On  a  re-examination  however  of  the  "King's  beef,"  some 
pieces  were  found  too  ranch  tainted  for  a  dog  to  eat,  and 
the  prisoners  threw  it  over  the  pickets.  After  this,  the 
supply  of  wholesome  meat  was  such  as  it  ought  to  be ; 
full  good  enough  for  Mr.  Miller  himself  to  eat ;  and  some 
of  the  very  best  pieces  good  enough  for  Grant,  the  turnkey. 

In  all  this  business  of  provision  for  prisoners  of  war, 
one  thing  ought  to  be  taken  into  consideration,  which  may 
be  oifered  as  an  extenuation  of  crime  alledged  against  the 
British  agents  for  prisoners  ;  and  that  is,  that  the  Ameri- 
can soldier  and  sailor  live  infinitely  better  in  America, 
than  the  same  class  of  people  do  inOreat  Britain  and  Ire- 
land. Generally  speaking,  an  American  eats  three  times 
tlie  quantity  of  animal  food  that  falls  to  the  share  of  thft 
same  class  of  people  in  England,  Holland,  Germany,  Den- 
mark or  Sweden.  He  sleeps  more  comfortably  and  lives 
in  greater  plenty  of  fish,  flesh,  vegetables  and  spirituous 
liquors.  Add  to  this,  his  freedom  is  in  a  manner  unbound- 
ed. He  speaks  his  mind  to  any  man.  If  he  thinks  he  is 
wronged  he  seeks  redress  with  confidence  ;  if  he  is  insulted, 
he  resents  it ;  and  if  you  should  venture  to  strike  him,  he 
never  will  rest  quiet  under  the  dishonor  ;  yet  you  seldom  or 
ever  hear  of  quarrels  ending  in  murder.  The  dagger  and 
pistol  are  weapons,  in  a  manner  unknown.  The  fist,  a  la 
mode  de  John  Bull,  is  commonly  the  ultimatum  of  a  Yan- 
kee's rage. 

We  often  hear  the  British,  if  they  are  unsuccessful,  la- 
menting the  war  between  England  and  America;  they  call 
it  an  unhappy  strife  between  brethren  :  and  they  attribute 
this  *♦  unnatural  war,"  to  a  French  influence;  and  their 
i^'iends  in  New  England,  who  are  denominated  tories,  use 
the  same  language;  they  say  that  all  the  odium  of  the 
war  ought  to  fall  on  our  administration  and  their  wicked 
seducers,  the  French  ;  and  yet  you  will  find  that  both  in 


I 


h  ii 


JQURXAt,. 


ir 


to  in(o  tlie 
ugh  ( point - 
make  you 
nd  to  linry 
lis  you  may 
s  eloquent 
tstrum,  and 
w\\\\  hisses 

beef,"  some 
to  eat,  and 
r  this,  the 
ij^ht  to  be : 
;  and  some 
lie  turnkey. 
Ts  of  Mar, 
which  may 
against  the 
the  Ameri- 
n  America, 
lin  and  Ire- 
three  times 
tare  of  the 
nany,  Den- 
^  and  lives 
spirituous 
runbound- 
hinks  he  is 
is  insulted, 
:c  him,  he 
seldom  or 
agger  and 
le  fist,  a  la 
of  a  Yan- 

?essful,  la- 
they  call 
attribute 
and  their 

toriesj  use 

urn  of  the 
ir  wicked 

at  both  in 


y 


^England  and  at  Halifax,  the   French  meet  with  belter 
treatment  than  their  dear  brothers  the  Americans. 

We  found  that  there  were  about  two  hundred  French 
prisoners  in  Nova  Scotia.     Some  had  been  there  ever 
since  4803.     Few  of  them  were  confined  in  prison.     Tho 
chief  of  them  lived  in,  or  near  the  town  of  Halifax,  work- 
t    ing  for  the  inhabitants,  or  teaching  dancing,  or  fencing, 
,;   or  their  own  language.     Some  were  employed  as  butchers, 
^^  and  cooks;  others  as  nurses  in  the  hospital;  and  they 
were  every  where  favoured  for  their  complaisance,  obedi- 
ence and  good  humour.    They  had  the  character  of  behav- 
ing better  towards  the  British  officers,  and  inhabitants 
than  the  Americans,  and  I  believe  with  reason ;  for  our 
y   men  seem  to  take  a  delight  in  plaguing,  embarrassing  and 
I  alarming  those  who  were  set  over  them.     A  Frenchman 
J  always  tried  to  please,  while  many  Americans  seemed  to 
J   take  an  equal  delight  in  letting  the  Nova  Scotians  know 
I   that  they  longed  to  be  at  liberty  to  fight  them  again.     I 
'd   confess  I  do   not  wonder  that   the  submissive,   smilina; 
I   Frenchmen  made  more  friends  at  Halifux,  than  the  ordi- 
1   nary  run  of  American  seamen,  who  seemed  too  oft«n  to 
look  and  speak  as  if  they  longed  to  try  again  the  tug  of  wai? 
with  John  Bull. 

Sunday  being  a  leisure  day  among  the  men  of  business 
in  Halifax  and  its  vicinity,  the  old  refugees  from  the  Unit- 
ed States  used  to  come  round  the  prison  to  gratify  their 
eyss,  instead  of  going  to  a  place  of  worship,  with  the  sight 
of  what  they  called  "  rebels.'*  These  are  generally 
Sicotchmen,  or  sons  of  Scotchmen,  and  are  very  bitter 
against  the  Americans.  Some  of  this  class  were  clergy- 
men, who  came  occasionally  to  pray  and  preach  with  us 
in  prison.  We  paid  every  mark  of  respect  to  every  mod- 
est and  prudent  minister  who  came  among  us  tu  perforin 
divine  service ;  but  we  never  could  restrain  our  feelings, 
when  one  of  these  refugee  gentlemen  came  among  us  pray- 
ing for  King  George  and  the  royal  family  of  England. 
The  men  considered  it  as  an  insult,  and  resented  it  accord- 
ingly. Some  of  these  imprudent  men  would  fulminate 
the  vengeance  of  Heaven,  for  what  they  conceived  polit' 
ical,  instead  of  moral  errors.  The  prisoners  respected 
some  of  these  reverend  gentlemen  highly,  while  they  des- 
pised some  others.     The  priesthood,  however,  have  lessj 


K 


;1 


I  ' 


II 


!  1 


ill 


i 


4B 


JOURNAL. 


hold  on  the  minds  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  than 
of  any  other  people  on  earth. 

The  Bishops  and  Cliurch  of  Enjijland  are  fast  destroy- 
ing their  own  craft,  by  aidins;  the  sly  dissenters  in  spread- 
in;;  the  Bible  throiij^h  every  family  in  Britain  and  in 
America.  In  readinj^  this  blessed  book,  the  people  will 
see  how  Christianity  has  been  corrupted.  They  will  com- 
pare the  arch-bishops  and  dis;niHed  clergy  of  the  present 
degenerate  days,  with  the  plainness  of  our  Saviour,  and 
^yiih  the  simplicity  of  the  holy  fisherman  and  other  of  his 
disciples.  Before  this  bonk  the  factitious  institutions  and 
gorgeous  establishments  of  the  modern  priesthood  will 
ifade  and  die,  like  Jonah's  gourd.  The  English  Episco- 
pacy never  has,  nor  ever  will  take  deep  root  in  the  United 
States.  It  can  never  flourish  in  the  American  soil.  Even 
the  Roman  Catholic  religion  is  here  a  humble  and  ration- 
al thing.  Its  ministers  are  highly  respected,  because 
their  lives  adorn  their  doctrines ;  and  the  parochal  care 
of  their  flock,  who  arc  principally  Irish,  is  seen  and  com- 
jniended.  It  is  observed  throughout  our  sea  ports,  that  the 
seafaring  people  are  generous  supporters  of  their  minis- 
ters ;  but  these  same  people  can  never  be  made  to  pay 
tythes,  or  to  hear  and  support  a  minister  whom  they  had 
not  directly  or  remotely  chosen.  This  is  the  predominant 
sentiment  of  all  the  anglo-Americans. 

The  daily  allowance  of  the  British  government  to  our 
.prisoners  is  one  pound  of  bread,  one  pound  of  beef,  and 
one  gill  of  pease.  Over  and  above  this  we  received  from 
the  American  agent  a  suflieiency  of  coffee,  sugar,  potatoes 
and  tobacco.  The  first  may  be  called  the  hare  necessa- 
ries of  life,  but  the  latter  contribute  much  to  its  comforta- 
ble enjoyment.  Whether  the  British  government  ought 
not  to  bav6  found  the  whole  I  am  not  prepared  to  deter- 
mine ;  but  certainly,  before  this  addition  from  our  own 
agent,  our  men  complained  bitterly. 

In  justice  to  Mr.  Miller,  the  British  agent,  I  ought  to 
record  that  he  paid  great  attention  to  the  cleanliness  of 
the  prison,  and  to  the  clothes  of  the  men  ;  and  I  must,  at 
the  same  time,  say  that  some  of  our  men  were  very  dirty, 
lazy  fellows,  that  required  constantly  spurring  up  to  keep 
them  from  being  offensive.  This  indolent  and  careless 
disposition  was  observed  to  he  chiefly  among  those  who 
had  been  formerly  intemperate  ;  they  felt  the  loss  of  their 
.beloved  stifnnlous,  and  their  spirits  sunk,  and  they  had 


i 


J  Of  R>' Al- 


ly 


St  destroy- 

m 

in  spread- 
liii  and  iu 
people  will 
y  willcom- 
he  present 
tviour,  and 
itlier  of  Ills 
tutions  and 
;thood  will 
ish  Episco- 
the  United 
soil.  Even 
and  ration- 
id,  because 
*ochal  care 
n  and  com- 
rts,  that  the 
their  mihiso 
ade  to  pay 
m  they  had 
redominant 

(lent  to  onr 
f  beef,  and 
seived  from 
&r,  potatoes 
re  necessa- 
s  comforta- 
nent  ought 
id  to  deter- 
n  our  own 


*anliness  of 
I  I  must,  at 
very  dirty, 
up  to  keep 
nd  careless 
those  who 
oss  of  their 
1  they  had 


rather  lay  down  and  rot,  and  die,  than  exert  themselves. 
There  were  a  few  who  heemed  to  be  like  hogs,  innately 
dirty,  and  M'ho  had  rather  be  dirty  than  clean.  Mr. 
Miller  had  therefore  great  merit  in  compelling  these  men 
to  follow  the  rule«  prescribed  to  the  whole  prison.  He 
lias  the  thanks  of  every  contiiderate  American. 

It  was  a  common  remark,  that  the  most  indolent  and 
most  slovenly  men  were  the  most  vicious  ;  and  a  dirty  ex- 
ternal was  a  pretty  sure  indication  of  a  depraved  mind. 
Such  as  would  not  conform  to  the  rules  of  cleanliness 
were  committed  to  the  black-hole,  which  was  under  the 
prison,  and  divided  into  solitary  cells.  The  agent  had 
the  power  of  confining  a  prisoner  in  one  of  tliese  dungeons 
during  ten  days.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  our  seamen  to  re- 
mark that  they  co-operated  with  the  agent  most  heartily 
in  whatever  tended  to  preserve  the  cleanliness  of  their 
persons,  and  they  applauded  the  confinement  of  such  as 
were  disinclined  to  follow  the  salutary  rules  of  the  prison. 

We  were  one  day  not  a  little  shocked  by  the  arrival  of 
a  number  of  American  soldiers  who  were  entrapped  and 
taken  with  Colonel  Boerstlevy  in  Upper  Canada.  They 
exhibited  a  picture  of  misery,  woe  and  despair.  Their 
miserable  condition  called  forth  our  sympathy  and  com- 
passion, and  I  may  add  excited  our  resentment  against 
(he  authors  of  their  distress.  These  unfortunate  lands- 
men had  never  been  used  to  rough  it  like  sailors,  but  had 
lived  the  easy  life  of  farmers  and  mechanics.  Some  of 
them  had  never  experienced  the  hardships  of  a  soldier'» 
life,  but  were  raw,  inexperienced  militia  men.  They  were 
taken  at  some  creek  between  Fort  George  and  Little  York 
by  the  British  and  their  allies  the  Indians,  who  stripped 
them  of  most  of  their  clothing,  and  then  wore  them  down 
by  very  long  and  harrassing  marches ;  first  to  Montreal, 
and  then,  to  Quebec;  and  soon  after  crowded  them  on 
board  transports,  like  negroes  in  a  guinea  ship,  where 
8omc  suffered  death,  and  others  merely  escaped  it.  It  ap- 
pears from  their  account  and  from  every  other  account  that 
the  treatment  of  these  poor  fellows  at  their  capture,  and 
on  their  march,  and  more  especially  on  board  the  transports 
from  Quebec  to  Halifax,  was  barbarous  in  the  extreme,  and 
highly  disgraceful  to  the  British  name  and  nation. 

We  have  it  asserted  uniformly,  that  the  prisoners,  who 
came  from  Quebec  to  Ihilifax  aud  to  Boston;  down  the  8t. 


.I" 


If 


!        i 
t        1 


ir 


.99 


JovnsM.. 


Lawrence,  were  treiateri  and  provided  for  in  a  mannn* 
little  above  brutes.  Colonel  Scott,  now  Major  General 
Scott,  came  by  that  rout  from  Quebec  to  Boston,  and  it  is 
well  known  that  he  complained  that  there  was  neither 
accommodations,  provisions,  or  any  thing  on  board  tire 
ship  proper  for  a  gentleman.  He  spoke  of  the  whole 
treatment  he  received  with  deep  disgust  and  pointed  re- 
sentuient.  If  an  officer  of  his  rank  and  accomplishments 
liad  so  much  reason  for  complaint,  we  may  easily  conceive 
what  the  private  soldier  must  endure. 

"We  paid  every  attention  in  our  power  to  these  poor 
"oldiers,  whose  emaciated  appearance  and  dejection  gave 
IIS  reason  to  expect  that  an  end  would  soon  be  put  to  their 
snfterings  by  death.  They,  however,  recruited  fast;  and 
we  were  soon  convfnced  that  they  were  reduced  to  the 
i-ondition  we  saw  them  in,  absolutely  for  want  of  food. 
The  account  which  these  soldiers  gave  of  their  hardships 
Avas  enous^h  to  fill  with  rage  and  resentment  the  heart  of 
u  saint.  Four  men  were  not  allowed  more  provision  than 
Avhat  was  needful  for  one.  They  assured  us,  that  if  they 
liad  not  secretly  come  at  some  bags  of  ship  bread,  unknown 
lo  the  officers  of  the  transport,  they  must  have  perished 
for  want  of  food.  We  cannot  pass  over  one  anecdote. 
•Some  fish  were  caught  by  our  own  people  on  the  passage, 
in  common  with  the  crew,  but  they  were  compelled  to  de- 
liver them  all  to  the  captain  of  the  ship,  who  withheld 
ihem  from  the  American  prisoners.  Borne  of  the  prison- 
ers had  a^Jittle  money,  and  the  captain  of  the  transport 
V.  as  mean  enough  to  take  a  dollar  for  a  single  cod  fish, 
from  men  in  their  situation.  This  fact  has  appeared  in 
several  Boston  papers,  with  the  names  of  the  persons  con- 
cerned, and  has  never  been  contradicted  br  doubted.  We 
i^ive  this  as  the  common  report ;  and  as  the  Boston  news- 
papers circulated  freely  through  Nova  Scotia  and  Canada, 
wc  infer  that  had  the  story  been  void  of  truth  it  would 
have  been  contradicted. 

Those  Americans  who  have  no  other  knowledge  of  the 
Knglish  character,  but  what  they  gather  from  books  made 
in  London ;  and  from  their  dramatic  productions,  and 
from  their  national  songs,  would  believe,  as  1  myself  once 
did,  that  John  Bull,  (by  which  name  Dean  Swift  personi- 
fied the  whole  nation)  was  an  humane,  tender-hearted, 
generous  gentleman ;  bat  let  him  be  once  in  the  power  of 


JOURNAL. 


21 


'»  tt  manna' 
fajor  General 
ton,  and  it  h 

wag  neither 
>n  board  the 
^  the  whole 
J  pointed  ro- 
mplishmentti 
sily  conceive 

these  poor 
jeetion  gave 

p"t  to  their 
?d  fast ;  and 
uced  to  the 
ant  of  food, 
ir  hardships 
the  heart  of 
uvision  than 
that  if  they 
id,  unknown 
ve  perished 
le  anecdote, 
he  passaee, 
►elled  to  de- 
»»  withheld 
the  prison- 
le  transport 
e  cod  fish, 
ippeared  in 
Brsons  con- 
'•ted.     We 
ston  news- 
id  Canada, 

it  would 

I'ge  of  the 
!)oks  made 
ions,  and 
yseif  once 
t  personi- 
f-hearted, 
power  of 


i 


an  Englishman,  or  what  is  still  worse,  of  a  Scotchman, 
and  it  will  correct  his  erroneous  notions.  An  English- 
man is  strongly  attached  to  his  King  and  country,  and 
thinks  nothing  on  earth  can  equal  them,  while  he  holds 
all  the  rest  of  the  world  in  comparative  contempt.  Until 
the  days  of  Bonaparte,  the  people  of  England  really  be- 
lieved that  one  Englishman  could  flog  six  Frenchmen. 
They  at  one  time  hud  the  same  idea  of  us,  Americans ; 
but  the  late  war  has  corrected  their  articles  of  lelief. 
The  humanity  of  the  British  is  one  of  the  most  monstrous 
Impositions. 

The  most  glaring  feature  in  the  English  character  is  a 
vain  glorious  ostentation,  as  is  exhibited  in  their  elegant 
and  costly  steeples,  superb  hospitals,  useless  cathedrals, 
/ying  columns :  such  as  the  monument  near  London  bridge, 
which  as  i*o|{e  says  of  it, 

♦«  Lifts  its  tall  head  and  lies." 

But  if  you  wish  to  learn  their  real  character,  look  at  theii 
bloody  code  of  laws,  read  their  M'ars  with  Wales,  with 
Scotland,  and  with  Ireland.  Look  at  India,  and  at  their 
own  West  India  Islands.  Look  at  the  present  border  war 
carried  on  by  associating  themselves  with  our  savages; 
Jiuok  into  this  very  prison,  ask  the  soldiers  Just  brought 
into  it,  what  they  think  of  British  humanity  or  British 
bravery.  A  reliance  on  British  veracity  and  honour 
caused  these  poor  fellows  to  surrender,  when  they  found 
them  worse  than  tho.  Indians.  These  things  may  be  for- 
given, but  they  ought  never  to  be  forgotten. 

Nova  Sootia,  or  JSTew  Scotland^  was  formerly  called 
Chebucto  by  the  native  Indians.  It  is  a  dreary  region. 
The  country,fur  many  miles  west  of  Halifax,  is  a  contiuued 
raftge  of  mountains,  rising  one  over  the  other,  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach.  The  winters  are  severe,  and  the 
springs  backward.  The  trees  appeared  to  be  as  bare  on 
the  26tli  of  May  a^s  the  same  kind  of  trees  do  in  the  middle 
of  March.  To  us  there  was  something  hideous  in  the  as- 
pect of  their  mountains;  but  this  may  have  been  pardy 
owing  to  our  own  hideous  habitation,  and  l'>w  spirits.  The 
same  objects  may  have  appeared  charming  in  the  eyes  of 
a  Scotch  family,  just  arrtred  from  the  fag-end  of  the  Island  ^ 
of  Great  Britain. 


22 


JOURNAL 


I     !; 


'     i! 


The  capital,  Ilulifa.r,  was  settled  by  a  number  of  Britisli 
subjects  in  174U.  It  h  situated  on  a  gpacious  and  com- 
modious bay  or  harbor,  called  Chebucto,  of  a  bold  and  easy 
entrance,  where  a  thousand  of  the  largest  ships  might 
ride  uilh  safety.  The  town  is  built  on  the  west  side  of 
the  harbor,  and  on  the  declivity  of  a  commanding;  hill, 
whose  summit  is  236  feet  perpendicular  from  the  level  of 
the  sea.  The  town  is  laid  out  into  oblong  squares ;  the 
streets  parallel  and  at  right  angles.  The  town  and  sub- 
nrbs  are  nbout  two  miles  in  length  ;  and  the  general  width 
a  quarter  of  a  mile.  It  contained  in  17Q3,  about  4000  in- 
habitants and  700  houses.  At  the  northern  extremity  of 
the  town,  is  the  king's  naval  yard,  completely  built  and 
supplied  with  stores  of  every  kind  for  the  royal  navy.  The 
liarbor  of  Halifax  is  reckoned  inferior  to  no  place  in  Bri- 
tish America  for  the  seat  of  government,  being  open  and 
accessible  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  when  almost  all  other 
harbors  in  these  provinces  are  lucked  up  with  ice  ;  also 
iVom  its  entrance,  situation,  and  its  proximity  to  the  bay 
of  Fundy,  and  principal  interior  settlements  of  the  prov- 
ince. Thitf  city  lying  on  the  S  coast  of  Nwva  Scotia  has 
i.ommunieation  with  Picton,  68  miles  to  the  N  E  on  the 
;j;ulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  by  a  good  cart  road  finished  in  1702. 
Jt  is  ia  miles  northerly  of  Cape  Sambro,  which  forms  in 
i>art  the  entrance  of  the  bay ;  27  south  easterly  of  Wind- 
sor, 40  N  by  E  of  Truro,  80  N  E  by  E  of  Annapolis,  on 
I  lie  bay  of  Fundy,  and  157  S  E  of  St.  Ann,  in  New  Brnns- 
M  ick,  measuring  in  a  straight  line.  N.  lat.  44  40,  W  Ion. 
i)3  13. 

It  was  settled  chiefly  by  Scotchmen;  and  since  the  rev- 
olutionary war,  which  secured  our  independence,  they 
]tave  received  considerable  additions  from  the  United 
.States  of  a  class  of  men  denominated  refugees,  who  exiled 
themselves,  on  account  of  our  republicanism  and  of  their 
oNvn  attachment  to  the  best  of  kings.  They  show  too  often 
ihcir  hatred  tons.  To  this  day  they  ^all  us  ^*  rebels  ;*' 
and  they  speak  to  us  in  a  stile  and  tone  as  if  they  were 
sorry  tlicy  could  not  murder  us  without  the  risk  of  being 
Jiiinged. 

It  is  strange,  it  is  passing  strange,  that  a  whole  people 
should  be  so  strongly  attached  to  the  honor,  crown  and 
dignity  of  their  conquerors  as  the  Scotch  are  to  the  present 
rrtyal  family  of  England;  whose  auceiBtor  was,  in  fact,  an 


ui 
nl 
ml 
|tl( 
"I  nil 

Jd 

J  ml 

^l  I 

m 


JUURXM. 


S3 


ber  of  British 
9U8  and  com- 
tioiil  and  ea^y 
sliips  might 
west  side  of 
tandiiiq;  hill, 
t  the  level  of 
squares;  the 
nvn  and  sub- 
eneral  nidth 
lout  4000  in- 
extremity  of 
ly  built  and 
il  navy.  The 
>lace  in  Bri- 
iis?  open  and 
lost  all  other 
(il  ice;  also 
y  to  the  bay 
of  the  prov- 
I  Scotia  has 
N  E  on  the 
led  in  1792. 
!h  forms  in 
y  of  Wind, 
n  a  poll  8,  on 
^ew  Bnins- 
40,  W  Ion. 

ce  the  rev- 
ence,  they 
he  United 
ivho  exiled 
id  of  their 
v  too  often 
"  rebels  ;'* 
they  were 
of  being 

lie  people 
rowD  and 
le  present 
1  fact;  an 


usurper  of  the  crown  and'dignities  of  ihc  f^cotch  race  of 
kins;»,  the  self  sulttcieiit  Stewarts.  The  most  remarkable 
thing  in  the  reign  of  George  (beside  that  of  loosing  Amer- 
ica) is  the  perfect  conciliation  of  the  Scotch.  VVbelher 
tliis  was  owing  to  my  Lord  Bute,  or  to  his  relation,  1  am 
unable  to  say  ;  but  it  is  a  singular  thing  in  the  history  of 
nations,  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  cruel  treat- 
ment of  the  Scotch  so  low  down  as  the  year  1745.  As 
there  is  no  new  thing  under  the  sun,  and  what  has  been 
Sniay  be  again,  who  knows  but  that  the  Cherokees  and 
ChoctaivSi  the  Chippewas,  the  Hiirons  and  PoUowattg- 
mies  may  hereafter  oecome  most  attached  to  our  govern- 
ment, and  aftbrd  us  Judges,  Secretaries  of  State,  Admi- 
rals, Generals,  Governors  of  Provinces,  Grooms  of  the 
Stool,  and  Historians  ?  Who  knows  but  the  day  will  come, 
when  there  shall  spring  up  from  the  mud  and  ooze  of  our 
own  trifling  lakes,  aoothar  Walter  Scott,  who  shall  sing 
as  sublimely  to  the  story  of  our  border  wars;  and  who 
shall  be  able  to  trace  a  long  and  illustrious  line  of  anceS' 
try,  up  to  the  renowned  chief  Split-log,  Walk-in-the-water, 
Hanging-maw,  or  to  Tecumseh?  Who  knows  but  that 
among  these  American  highlanders,  we  shall  find  another 
Ossian  and  another  Fingal?  for  what  has  been,  under 
similar  circumstances,  may  be  again. 

Early  in  the  month  of  July,  we  were  not  a  little  dis- 
turbed by  the  arrival  of  the  crew  of  our  ill  omened,  ill 
fated  Chesapeake. 

The  capture  of  this  American  frigate  by  the  British 
frigate  Shannon  of  equal  force,  was  variously  related. 
From  all  that  I  could  gather,  she  was  not  judiciously 
brought  into  action,  nor  well  fought  after  Capt.  Lawrence 
fell.  It  is  too  much  like  the  British  to  hunt  up  every  pos- 
sible excuse  for  a  defeat ;  but  we  must  conclude,  and  I 
have  since  found  it  a  general  opinion  in  the  United  States, 
that  the  frigate  was  by  no  means  in  a  condition  to  go  inta 
action.  The  captain  was  a  stranger  to  his  own  crew ;  his 
ship  was  lumbered  up  with  her  cables  and  every  thing 
else.  She  ought  to  have  cruised  three  or  four  days  before 
she  met  the  Shannon,  and  that,  it  seems,  was  the  opinion, 
of  the  captain  of  the  British  frigate  ;  who  was  every  way 
prepared  for  the  action. 

The  rapid  destruction  of  the  British  sloop  of  war  Pea- 
cock, gave  Lawrence  high  reputation ;  and  he  felt  as  if 


24, 


JOURNAL. 


lie  must  act  up  to  his  hi^li  character.  He  seemed  like  an 
hero  impelled,  by  high  ideas  of  chivalry,  to  fight,  conquer 
or  die,  without  attendins;  tu  the  needful  cautious  and  prep- 
arations. His  first  othcer  he  left  sick  on  shore;  his  next 
ofticer  was  soon  killed  ;  soon  after  which  he  fell  himself, 
Uttering  the  never  to  be  forgotten  words,  *•  Don't  give 
UP  THE  SHIP,"  which  has  since  become  a  sort  of  national 
motto.  While  the  British  captain  prudently  dreased  him- 
self in  a  short  jacket  and  round  hat,  so  as  not  to  distin- 
guish himself  from  the  other  oDicers,  our  Capt.  Lawrence, 
>vho  was  six  feet  and  four  inches  tail,  was  in  his  uniform 
and  military  hat,  a  fair  and  inviting  mark  for  the  enemy's 
sharp  shooters.  No  one  doubted  his  bravery,  but  some 
have  called  his  prudence  in  rjuestion. 

This  heroic  man  and  his  Lieutenant,  Ludlow,  were 
three  times  buried  with  great  military  pomp  ;  first  atHal- 
ifax — then  at  Salem,  and  last  of  ail  at  New  York.  The 
name  of  Lawrence  is  consecrated  in  America,  while  his 
ever  unlucky  ship  is  doomed  to  everlasting  ignominy  ;  for 
this  was  the  vessel  that  preferred  allowing  the  British 
ship  Leopard  to  muster  her  crew,  instead  of  sinking,  with 
her  colors  flying. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Halifax  was  alarmed,  or  pre- 
tended to  be  alarmed,  by  a  rumor  that  the  prisoners  on 
IVlelville  Island,  which  is  about  three  miles,  or  less,  from 
the  town,  meditated  a  sally,  with  a  delermination  of  seiz- 
ing the  capital  of  Nova  Scotia.  They  immediately  took 
the  most  serious  precautions^  and  screwed  up  their  muni- 
cipal regulations  to  the  highest  pitch.  All  the  loyal  cit- 
izens entrusted  with  arms,  were  ordered  to  keep  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's  warning  to  re- 
pel the  meditated  attack  of  about  a  thousand  unarmed 
yankees,  rendered  formidable  by  a  reinforcement  ol*  a  few 
dozen  half  starved  soldiers,  who  were  taken  by  the  In- 
dians and  British  and  sent  from  Quebec  down  the  river 
St.  Lawrence,  to  the  formidable  American  post  on  Mel- 
ville Island,  under  the  command  of  turn-key  Grant !  who 
was  himself  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  General  Mr. 
Agent  Miller  I 

It  was  reported  and  believed  by  many  in  Halifax,  that 
the  prisoners  had  made  arrangements  for  the  attack,  and 
had  sworn  to  massacre  every  man,  woman  and  child. 
When  we  found  that  they  really  believed  the  ridiculous 


;e! 


^n 


journal; 


^' 


jeemed  like  an 
fighf,  conquer 
ious  and  prep- 
liore;  liis  next 
le  fell  himself, 
*'  Don't  give 
Jrt  of  national 
>  dressed  liim- 
not  to  distin- 
pt.  Lawrence, 
n  his  uniform 
»r  the  enem)''s 
iry,  but  some 

LudloiVj  were 
j  first  at-Hal- 
Vork.  The 
ca,  while  his 
jnominy  5  for 
J  the  British 
sinking,  with 

^med,  or  pre- 
prisouers  on 
or  less,  from 
ition  of  seiz- 
idiately  took 

their*muni- 
he  loyal  cit- 

kecp  Ihem- 
rning  to  re- 
nd unarmed 
ent  of  a  i'aw 

by  the  In- 
n  the  river 
ost  on  Mel- 
jraiit !  who 
eneral  Mr. 

alifax,  that 
iittaek,  and 
and  child. 
i  ridiculous 


,ii^ 


story,  we  niust  confess  that  we  enjoyed  their  terror,  and 

aughed  inwardly  at  their  formidable  precautions  of  de- 

ence.     They  placed  a  company  of  artillery,  with  two  pie- 

es  of  cannon  on  a  height  south  of  the  prison:  and  cleared 

.,  ip  a  piece  of  land,  and  stationed  another  corps  of  artillery 

tiwith  a  cannon  so  placed  as  to  rake  our  habitation  length- 

jM'ise,  while  sentries  were  placed  at  regulated  distances  on 

;^lhe  road,  all  the  way  into  the  town  of  Halifax.     An  addi* 

Itional  number  of  troops  were  stationed  on  the  island,  who 

'9iuouaclced  in  the  open  air  near  to  the  oflieers  dwellings;  | 

in  other  word^,  they  were  placed  there  to  prevent  us  from 

cutting  the  officers   throats  with  clam  shells,  or  oyster 

•|shells,  for  we  had  nothing  metallic  for  the  purpose. 

When  M'e  saw  these  formidable  preparations,  and  re^ 
fleeted  on  our  own  helpless  condition,  without  any  means 
•of  offence,  beside  our  teeth  and  nails,  we  could  not  butdes-* 
pise  our  enemies;  and  we  did  not  omit  to  increase  their 
ridiculous  alarm,  by  whispering  together,  pointing  our 
fingers  sometimes  E.  and  sometimes  W.  and  sometimes  N< 
and  sometimes  S.  and  rubbing  our  hands  and  laughing  and 
affecting  to  be  in  high  spirits.  The  conduct  of  the  agents 
at  this  threatening  crisis  of  his  affairs,  did  not  diminish 
our  contempt  of  him.  He  would  often  mount  his  rostrum,- 
the  head  of  the  stair-case,  to  address  us,  and  assure  us, 
that  we  should  soon  be  delivered  from  our  confinement 
and  be  sent  home.  He  said  that  he  did  not  expect  to  see  anj 
of  us  in  prison  six  weeks  longer;  and  that  our  detention^ 


Vh 


S  M'as  then  only  owing  to  some  delay  of  orders  from  admiral 
f  Warren  ;  but  that  he  expected  them  every  moment.     He 


4S 


therefore  entreated  us  to  remaiu  contented  and  quiet  a  lit-* 
tic  longer,  and  not  obstruct  the  kind  intentions  that  were 
in  train  for  our  iieliverance  from  captivity  ;  and  he  assur- 
ed us,  upon  his  honor,  that  every  thing  should  be  done  in" 
his  power  to  expedite  our  return  home  ;  that  there  were^ 
then  three  cartels  getting  ready  to  convey  us  away.  In 
the  mean  time  every  thing  was  said  and  done  at  Halifax 
to  make  us  satisfied  and  quiet. 

While  the  agent  v  as  making  his  declarations  of  friend- 
ship, and  protesting  upon  his  honor,  that  we  should  be 
sent  home,  he  knew  full  well  that  the  greatest  part  of  the 
prisoners  were  to  be  sent  across  the  atiantic,  to  suffer  th& 
punishment  of  a  British  prison.  Tke  policy  of  the  Eng- 
lish goyernmeat  was,  it  seems?  to  discourage  the  enlist <• 


dd 


JOUnXAL. 


■'t 


!■ 


ihent  of  soldiers  into  our  service  by  sending  the  prisonersj 
taken  on  the  frontiers,  to  England.  They  meant  also  tu 
distress  us  by  accumulating  our  seamen  in  their  prisons, 
and  this  they  imagined  would  disenable  us  from  manning* 
our  men  of  war,  or  sending  out  privateers.  They  prefer- 
red every  mode  of  distressing  us  to  that  of  fair  fighting; 
for,  in  fair  fight  and  equal  numbers,  we  have  always  beat 
them  by  sea  and  land. 

We  were  in  good  humor  and  high  spirits  at  the  prospect 
of  leaving  our  loathsome  den,  and  once  more  returning 
home  to  see  onr  mothers  and  fathers,  sisters  and  brothers, 
and  school  fellows,  and  the  old  jolly  companions  of  our 
happy  days.  We  smiled  upon  Mr.  Agent  Miller,  and  he 
lipoB  us.  We  greeted  our  turn  key,  the  now  and  then 
smooth  tongued  Mr.  Grant,  with  a  good  morrow,  and  all 
feelings  of  hostility  were  fast  subsiding;  and  one  told  him 
that  he  should  be  very  glad  to  see  him  in  Boston ;  another 
said  he  should  be  very  glad  to  see  him  in  Marblehead, 
and  another  at  New  York,  and  Baltimore,  and  so  on. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  month  of  August,  and  after 
Mr.  Agent  Miller  and  the  military  had  taken  the  most  ef- 
fectual method  to  provide  against  the  possibility  of  resist- 
ance from  the  prisoners,  reports  now  and  then  reached  us, 
that  the  expected  exchange  was  unhappily  broken  off,  and 
that  it  was  the  fault  of  the  American  government.  These 
things  were  hinted  at  with  great  caution,  as  not  entitled 
to  entire  credit ;  the  next  day  it  was  said  that  the  business 
of  exchange  was  in  a  prosperous  train.  AH  this  was  done 
by  way  of  feeling  the  pulse  of  the  most  respectable  of  the 
prisoners ;  those  most  likely  to  take  the  lead  in  an  insur- 
rection. We  could  easily  trace  all  these  different  stories 
to  the  cunning  Mr.  Miller,  through  his  subordinate  agents. 

On  the  first  day  of  September,  1813,  an  hundred  of  us 
prisoners  were  selected  from  different  crews,  and  ordered 
to  get  our  baggage  ready  and  be  at  the  gate  at  a  certain 
hour.  On  enquiring  of  our  keeper,  Mr.  Grant,  what  was 
the  design  of  this  order,  he  replied,  with  his  habitual  du- 
plicity?  that  we  were  "  to  be  sent  homeJ^  When  Mr.  Mil- 
ler was  asked  the  same  question,  he  replied,  that  he  had 
a  particular  reason,  at  that  time,  for  not  answering  the 
question;  but  none  of  us  doubted  from  the  selection  from 
different  crews,  but  that  we  were  about  to  be  sent  to  our 
beloved  country  and  natal  homes.  We  left  the  prison  with 


'•^poi 


;lei 


.,5* 


\f-' 


JOURNAL. 


^ 


?  tlie  prisoners. 
y  meant  also  to 
n  their  prisons, 
from  manning 
They  prefer! 
f  fair  fighting; 
ve  always  beat 

at  the  prospect 
«ore  returning 
s  and  brothers, 
panioBs  of  our 
Miller,  and  he 
now  and  then 
rrow,  and  nil 
1  one  told  hiui 
•ston ;  another 
Marblehead, 
nd  so  on. 
1st,  and  after 
n  the  most  ef- 
lity  of  resist- 
n  reached  us, 
oken  off,  and 
nent.   These 
!  not  entitled 
the  business 
(lis  was  done 
Rtableof  the 
in  an  insur- 
rent  stories 
nate  agents. 
ndred  of  us 
md  ordered 
iit  a  certain 
>  what  was 
abitual  du- 
n  Mr.  Mil- 
hat  he  had 
vering  the 
ction  from 
pnt  to  our 
rison  with 


[iglit  hearts,  not  without  pitying  onr  companions,  who 

/ere  doomed  to  wait  awhile  longer  before  they  could  be 

Hide  so  happy  as  we  then  felt.     We  stepped  on  board  the 

jouts  with  smiling  countenances.     The  barge  men  told  ns 

(hat  the  ships  we  were  going  to  were  cartels. 

Having  arrived  among  the  shipping,  the  olHcer  of  the 
>oai  was  asked,  which  of  these  soveral  ships  was  the  car- 
tei — "fAere,"  said  he,  pointing  to  an  old  -A*,  ^^  is  the.  ship, 
/*f  which  is  to  take  you  to  Old  En^land.''^    Heavens  ubove ! 
"fV'hat  a  stroke  of  thunder  was  this!  We  looked  at  each 
"^thtM"  with  horror,  with  dismay,  and  stupefaction,  before 
unr  depressed   souls  recoiled   with   iTidignation !   .Such  a 
5hana:e  of  countenance  I  never  beheld !  Had  we  been  on 
the  deck  of  a  ship,  and  been  informed  that  a  match  was 
Just  about  being  touched  to  her  magazine  of  powder,  we 
ehould  not  have  exhibited  such  a  picture  of  paleness  and 
idismay.     The  deception  was  cruel ;  the  duplicity  was  in- 
'l^'amous.     The  whole  trick  from  beginning  to  end  was  an 
^instance  of  cowardice,  meanness  and  villainy.     It  proves 
llhat  cowards  arc  cruel ;  that  barbarity  and  sincerity  never 
Inieet  in  the  same  bosom. 

We  now  saw  that  the  rumor  of  our  rising  upon  our 
^lieepers,  and  marching  to  Halifax  was  a  miserable  false- 
'||]iood,  spread  abroad  i'or  no  other  purpose  than  to  double 
"iour  guards,  and  previent  the  imagined  consequences  of  des* 
peration,  should  it  be  discovered  that  we  were  to  be  sent 
Jaeross  the  atlantic.     It  is  possible  we  might  have  sue- 
|rceeded  in  disarming  the  soldiers  on  the  island,  and  taken 
;| their  cannon;  but  for  want  of  more  arms  we  could  have 
redone  but  little.     Had  we  all  been  armed  we  could  have 
^entered  Halifax,  and  put  to  the  test  the  bravery  of  these 
^^^loyalists ;  but  an  unarmed  multitude  are  nothing  before  an 
gjjjeighth  part  of  their  number  of  regular  soldiers.   Military 
j:  men,  in  Halifax,  could  never  have  had  a  moment's  serious 
I  apprehension  from  the  prisoners  on  Melville  Island.   It  is 
j'^i  my  firm  opinion,  however,  that  had  we  been  apprized  of 
^  onr  cruel  destination,  we  should  have  risen  upon  the  boats 
li^  and  attempted  an  escape,  or  sold  our  lives  dearly.     Re- 
venge and  desperation   have   done   wonders;   and    both 
would  have  steeled  the  heart  and  nerved  the  arm  of  our 
little  band  of  sufferers.     Had  we  not  been  beguiled  with 
the  lies  of  the  agent  and  his  turn  key,  we  should  have 
given  our  enemies  a  fresh  proof  of  American  bravery,  if 


^8 


JOUKNAL. 


m 
41 


not  of  impriidenee.     Had  Miller  been  on  board  the  hoM  ifff,-n\ 

with  us,  we  !«huuld  most  certainly  have  thrown  liim  over-  ^f 

board.     His  base  and  dishonorable  artifice,  first  to  rai«ie  ^^ 

our  hopes  and  expectations  to  the  height  of  joy,  and  then  |Lt 

to  sink  us  in  despair,  was  an  infamous  deed,  worthy  such  |f 

a  reward.     Speakint;  for  myself,  I  declare,  that  my  heart  ^ie| 

sunk  within  me,  and  I  came  near  faintin:^,  and  it  was  some  ^^Ihi 
time  before  tears  came  to  my  relief;  then  in  a  burst  of  in- 
diguatioQ,  I  cursed  the  perfidious  enemy,  and  felt  my  sou) 
wound  up  to  deeds  of  desperation. 


n 


I  i 


i!    ' 


CHAPTER  II. 

'Had  the  agent  informed  us  of  the  orders  of  his  gnvern^ 
meut,  and  made  us  acquainted  with  our  destination,  we 
should  Lave  braced  our  minds  up  to  the  occasion,  and  SHb- 
mitted  to  our  hard  fate  like  men.  We  should  have  said 
to  each  other  in  the  langruage  of  Shakespeare — "  if  these 
"  ihing'S  be  necessities,  let's  meet  ihem  like  necessities  ;'* 
but  to  be  deceived  and  duped,  and  cajoled  into  a  state  of 
great  joy  and  exultation,  and  then,  in  an  instant,  precipi- 
tated into  the  dark  and  cold  regions  of  despair,  was  bar- 
barous beyond  expression.  As  much  resentment  as  I  feel 
towards  Miller  and  his  subalterns,  I  cannot  wish  either  of 
them  to  suffer  the  pangs  1  felt  at  the  idea  of  this  floating 
dungeon. 

The  late  Governor  Ge^rry,  in  one  of  his  communica- 
tions to  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  when  speaking 
of  the  impressment  and  ill  usage  of  our  seamen  by  the 
English,  calls  a  British  man  of  war  "  a  floating  Pandemo- 
**  nium.*^  1  never  felt  the  force  of  tliat  expression  until  I 
eiutered  on  board  this  floating  hell. 

After  some  difliculty  and  delay  we  got  ourselves  and 
bedding  up  the  side  of  the  ship;  and  as  our  names  were 
called  over,  our  bedding  was  served  out  to  us.  We  in- 
formed the  officer  that  there  were  but  seventy  blankets  for 
an  hundred  men ;  to  which  he  replied,  that  he  had  orders  to 
serve  out  blankets  in  the  same  proportion  as  they  served 
^i  our  iirovisions.    To  understand  this,  the  reader  must 


JOURNAL. 


Tti 


hoard  tlic  hoM 
own  him  over- 
;,  first  to  rai*ie 
Fjoy,  and  then 
I,  worthy  such 
that  my  heart 
nd  it  was  some 
I  a  burst  of  in- 
id  felt  m}  soul 


of  his  grtvern- 

[estination,  we 

asion,  and  SHb- 

luld  have  said 

are — "  if  these 

necessities  ;" 

into  a  state  of 

stant,  precipi- 

pair,  was  bar- 

ment  as  1  feel 

wish  either  of 

if  this  floating 

s  communiea- 
heu  speaking 
eamen  by  the 
ing  Pandemo- 
ression  until  I 


D 


urselves  and 

names  were 

us.     We  in- 

blankets  for 

had  orders  to 

|s  they  served 

reader  must 


tiiow  Ihat  the  British  have  been  in  the  habit,  all  the  war, 
>f  e;iving  to  tlioir  prisoners  a  less  quantity  offood  than  to 
in'iroNxn  men.  They  uniformly  gave  to  hLv  of  us,  the 
fame  quantity  which  they  gave  to  four  of  tlieir  own  sailors. 
|f  what  they  allowed  to  their  own  men  was  barely  surifi- 
^ient,  whalthey  gave  to  us  could  not  be  enough  to  satisfy 
ifie  cravings  of  hunger;  and  this  we  all  found  to  be  the 

%  The  crew  of  the  man  of  war  sleep  on  the  deck,  which  is 
.liiext  under  the  gun  d*ck,  while  our  destination  was  on  the 
Jkck  under  that.     It  was  to  the  ship  what  the  cellar  is  to 
l|  house.     It  was  under  water,  and  of  course,  without  win- 
lows,  or  air  holes.     All  the  air  and  light  came  through 
lie  hutch  way,  a  sort  of  trap  door  or  cellar  way.    In  this 
[oating  dungeon,  we  miserable  young  men  spent  our  first 
fight,  in  sleepless  anguish,  embittered  with  the  apprehen- 
ion  of  our  suftering  a  cruel  death  by  suftocation.     Here 
j^lhe  black  hole  of  Calcutta  rose  to  my  view  in  all  its  hor- 
,ibrs ;  and  the  very  thought  stopped  my  respiration,  and 
•€t  my  brain  on  fire.     In  my  distress,  1  stamped  with  my 
iifeet,  and  beat  my  head  against  the  side  of  the  ship  in  the 
i^jidness   of  despair.     1   measured   the   misery    of  those 
„#*ound   me   by  what  I  myself  suft'ered.     Shut  up  in  the 
.IRBirk,  with  ninety-nine  distressed  young  men,  like  so  many 

fulley  slaves,  or  Guinea  negroes,  excluded  from  the  bene- 
l  of  the  common  air,  without  one  ray  of  light  or  comfort, 
4t>d  without  a  single  word  expressive  of  compassion  from 
jl^v  officer  of  the  ship.     I  never  was  so  near  sinking  into 
^liespair      We  naturally  cling  to  life,  but  now  I  should 
"'  ive  welcomed  death.     To  be  confined,  and  even  chained 
ly  where  in   the  light  of  the  sun,  is  a  distressing  thing, 
Specially  to  very  young  men,  but  to  be  crowded  into  a 
'rty  hole   in  the  dark,  where  there  was  no  circulation 
^«f  air  is  beyond  expression  horrible.     Perhaps  my  study 
dt  the  human  fmme,  and  my  knowledge  of  the  vital  prop- 
,.e^ty  of  the  air,  and  of  the  philosophy  of  the  vital  functions, 
,nlay  have  added  to  my  distress.     1  remembered  what  1  had 
jread  and  learnt  in  the  course  of  my  education,  viz  :  that 
<^VHry  full  grown  person  re({mre»  forty-eight  thousand  cu- 
|»ic  inches  of  air  in  an  hour,  or  one  million  one  hundred  and 
nffy-two  thousand  cubic  inches  in  the  course  of  a  day  ;  and 
[hat  if  this  is  once  received  into  the  lungs  and  breathed 
mt  again,  it  cannot  be  breathed  a  secoad  time,  till  it  is 
3 


!  I 


..^;: 

m '! 


•'.i 


■'I 


I  ■  I 


dJ 


.reuuNAi.. 


mixed  whh  the  coniinon  utinospherlc  iiir.  AVhen  1  con- 
hidorcd  thai  our  iiuniijor  ainoiiuted  lo  an  hundred,  I  eoiili! 
not  drive  from  tnv  iniiid  this  calculation,  and  the  result  of 
it  nearly  deprived  me  of  my  reason.  The  horrors  of  the 
Jilack  Hole  of  Calcutta  ha>  e  heen  long  celebrated,  because 
JSnglislimen  suftered  and  perished  in  it.  Now  ihe  English 
liave  more  than  a  thoumna  Mack  holes  into  which  they 
unfeelingly  thrust  their  impressed  nien^  and  their  prison* 
crs  of  war.  Their  tenders  that  lay  in  the  Thames,  oiV 
Tower-wharf  are  so  many  black  holes  into  which  they 
thrust  their  own  people,  whom  their  press  gangs  seize  in 
ihe  streets  of  London,  and  crowd  into  them  like  so  many 
live  rabbits  or  chickens  carrying  in  a  cart  to  market.  My 
reflections  on  these  things  have  greatly  changed  my  opinion 
of  the  English  character  in  point  of  humanity. 

After  ])assing  a  wretched  night,  one  of  the  petty  officers 
came  down  to  us,  by  which  event,  we  learnt  that  it  was 
morning.  I  found  myself  mueh  indisposed  ;  my  tongue 
>vas  dry  and  coated  with  a  furr;  my  head  ached  violently, 
and  I  felt  no  inclination  to  take  any  thing  but  cold  water. 
A  degree  of  calmness,  liovvever,  prevailed  among  my  fel- 
low prisoners.  They  found  lamentations  unavailing,  and 
complaints  useless.  Few  of  them,  beside  myself,  had  lost 
their  appetites,  and  several  expressed  a  wish  for  some 
breakfast.  Preparations  were  soon  made  for  this  delicious 
repast.  The  first  step  was  to  divide  us  into  messes,  six 
in  a  mess.  To  each  mess  was  given  a  wooden  kid,  ov  pig- 
gin,  as  our  farmers  call  them,  because  it  is  oH-i  of  such 
vooden  vessels  that  they  feed  their  pigs  that  are  fatting 
ibr  the  market.  At  8  o'clock  one  was  called  from  each 
mess,  by  the  whistle  of  the  boatswain's  mute,  to  attend  at 
the  galley,  the  nautical  name  for  the  kitchen  and  fire 
place,  to  receive  the  breakfast  for  the  rest.  But  what 
Yvas  our  disappointment  to  find  instead  of  coffee,  whicli  we 
were  allowed  by  our  own  government  at  Melville  prison, 
a  pi.ggiu  oi' swill,  for  we  farmers*  sons  co*;  i^oe  no  other 
name  to  the  disgusting  mess  they  brougiit  ns.  This 
breakfast  was  a  pint  of  liquid  which  they  call  Burgoo, 
which  is  a  kind  of  oatmeal  gruel,  about  the  consistence  of 
the  swill  which  our  farmers  give  their  hogs,  and  not  a 
whit  better  in  its  quality.  It  is  made  of  oatmeal,  whicli 
we  Americans  very  generally  detest.  Our  people  consider 
ground  oats  as  only  fit  for  cattle;  and  it  is  never  eaten  by 


■  ■■•■/* 


■ih 


'':^ 


'5^; 


JOUANAL. 


^  t 


AVfjen  1  COM. 
I'lroil,  I  eoiilil 
<I  Uio  result  of 
10  no  IS  of*  the 
lated,  because 
w  ilie  English 
f>  nhicJi  they 
their  prison- 
Thames,  oil' 
)  which  they 
angs  seize  iu 
Jike  so  many 
market.  My 
?tl  my  opinion 

petty  officers 
t  that  it  was 
;  my  tongue 
led  violently, 
It  cold  water. 
Tiong  my  fel- 
avaiJing*,  and 
self,  had  lost 
ish  for  some 
this  delicious 
>  messes,  six 
II  kid,  ov  pig^ 
i  OH-t  of  such 
tare  fatting 
d  from  each 
to  attend  at 
len  and  fire 
But  what 
!e,  which  we 
ville  prison, 
'/e  no  other 
t  us.     This 
;all  Burgoo, 
>nsistcnce  of 
,  and  not  a 
neal,  which 
pie  consider 
er  eaten  by 


'J;i< 


the  human  species  tu  the  United  States.  It  is  said  that 
this  oatmeal  porridge,  was  introduced  to  the  British  pris- 
ons by  the  Scotch  influence,  and  we  think  that  none  but 
hogs  and  Scotchmen  ought  to  eat  it.  A  mess  more  rcpel- 
lant  to  ayankee's  stomach  could  not  well  be  contrived.  It 
is  said,  however,  that  the  Highlanders  are  very  fond  of  it; 
and  that  the  Scotch  physicians  extol  it  as  a  very  whole- 
some and  nutritious  food,  and  very  nicely  calculated  for 
the  sedentary  life  of  a  prisoner ;  but  by  what  we  have 
heard,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  oatmeal  is  the  staple 
commodity  of  Scotland,  and  that  the  highly  favored 
Scotch  have  the  exclusive  privilege  of  supplying  the  mis- 
erable creatures  whom  the  fortune  of  war  has  thrown  into 
the  hands  of  the  English,  with  this  national  dish,  so  deli- 
cious to  Scotchmen,  and  so  abhorrent  to  an  American. 

Excepting  this  pint  of  oatmeal  porridge,  we  had  noth- 
ing more  to  eat  or  drink  until  dinner  time  ;  when  we  were 
served  with  a  pint  of  pea  tvater.  Our  allowance  for  tho 
weel^,  for  it  is  diftieult  to  calculate  it  by  the  day,  was  four 
and  a  half  pounds  of  bread,  two  and  a  quarter  pounds  of 
beef  or  pork,  one  and  a  quarter  pounds  of  flour,  and  tho 
pea  ivate'r,  which  they  called  "  soup,"  five  days  in  every 
week.  Now  let  any  man  of  knowledge  and  observation 
judge,  whether  the  portion  of  food  here  allotted  to  each 
man  was  sufficient  to  preserve  him  from  the  exquisite  tor- 
tures of  hunger ;  and  perhaps  there  is  no  torture  more  in- 
tolerable to  young  men  not  yet  arrived  to  their  full  growth. 
We  had  been  guilty  of  no  crime.  We  had  been  engaged 
in  the  service  of  our  dear  country,  and  deserve  applauses 
and  not  torture.  And  bo  it  forever  remembered,  that  thri 
Americans  always  feed  their  prisoners  well,  and  treat 
them  with  humanity. 


The  Itegulus,  for  that  is  the  name  of  the  ship  we  wero 
,  is,  if  I  mistake  not,  an  old  line  of  battlo  ship,  armed 
tn  flute,  that  is,  her  lower  deck  was  fitted  up  with  bunks, 
or  biiUhs,  so  large  as  to  contain  six  men  in  a  birth.  The 
only  passages  for  light  or  air  were  through  the  main  an«l 
fore  hatches,  which  were  covered  with  a  grating,  at 
which  stood,  day  and  night,  a  sentinel.  The  communica- 
tion between  our  dungeon  and  the  upper  deck  wa^  only 
through  the  main  hatch  way,  by  means  of  a  rope  ladder, 
that  could  be  easily  cut  away  at  a  moment's  warning, 
should  thq  half  starved  American  prisoners  ever  concladd 


•"^I 

O  V 


•fOURNAl. 


li'     '-.I 


'i 


ii 


lo  rise  and  take  the  ship,  which  these  brave  British  tart' 
seemed  constantly  apprehensive  of.  You  may  judge  of 
their  apprehensions  by  their  extraordinary  precautions — 
they  had  a  larg;e  store  of  muskets  in  their  tops  to  be  ready 
for  their  marines  and  erew  should  we  yankees  drive  them 
from  the  hull  to  seek  safely  above.  They  had  two  car- 
innades  loaded  with  i^rape  and  cannister  shot  oi»the  poop, 
pointing  forward,  with  a  man  at  each  ;  and  strict  orders 
were  given  not  to  hold  any  conversation  with  the  Ameri- 
cans, under  the  penalty  of  the  severest  chastisement. 
However  improbable  the  thin*  may  appear,  we  discussed 
the  matter  very  seriously  and  repeatedly  among  ourselves, 
and  compared  the  observations  we  made  when  on  deuk.  in 
our  council  chamber  under  water.  It  seems  that  the  Bri- 
tish are  apprized  of  the  daring  spirit  of  the  Americans  ; 
they  wateh  tiieiii  wit'i  as  much  dread  as  if  they  were  so 
many  tigers. 

Just  before  we  sailed,  our  old  friond,  Mr.  Miller,  came 
ou  board,  and  we  were  all  called  upon  deck  to  hear  his 
last  speech  and  receive  his  blessing.  We  conceited  that 
he  looked  ashamed,  and  felt  embarrassed.  It  is  probable 
iiiat  the  consciousness  of  having  t<tld  us  things  that  were 
not  true,  disconcerted  him.  He  however,  in  a  milder  man- 
ner and  voice  than  usual,  told  us  that  we  were  going  to 
England  to  be  exchanged,  while  there  were  some  in  another 
ship  going  to  England  to  he  hanged.  Beside  this  enviable 
difterence  in  our  situation,  compared  with  those  traitoreui 
Irishmen,  who  had  been  fighting  against  their  king  and 
country,  we  were  very  fortunate  in  being  the  first  seleeted 
to  go,  as  we  should,  of  course,  be  the  first  to  be  exchanged 
and  sent  home.  He  told  us  that  he  thought  it  probable 
that  we  should  be  sent  home  again  before  spring,  or  at 
farthest  in  the  spring;  he  therefore  exhorted  us  to  be  good 
boys  during  the  passage,  and  behave  well,  and  obey  or- 
ders, and  that  would  insure  us  kind  and  humane  treat- 
ineut ;  but  that  if  we  were  mutinous,  or  attempted  to  resist 
the  authority  of  the  oHicers,  our  treatment  would  be  less 
kind,  and  we  should  lose  our  turn  in  the  course  of  ex- 
change, and  that  our  comfort  and  happiness  depended  en- 
tirely on  bur  own  submissive  behavior.  He  every  now 
and  then  gave  force  to  his  assertions  by  pledging  hishoror 
thai  what  he  said  was  true,  and  no  deception. 

As  this  was  probably  the  last  time  we  should  have  an 


'1 

i 

0 

9 

]S 

m 

t 

s 

c 

% 

0 

\ 

p 

n 

' '; 

e 

s 

e  British  tarS' 
may  juiige  ^j. 

ireeautions 

»s  to  be  ready 
58  drive  them 
iad  two  car- 
«» the  poop, 
strict  orders 
»  the  Ameri- 
hastisement. 
we  discMMsed 
'»g  ourselves, 
i  on  deck. in 
hat  the  Bri- 
Americans  ; 
iey  were  so 

tiller,  came 
to  hejir  his 

nceileci  that 

is  probahle 

s  that  were 

wilder  man- 

rego'ins^  to 

5  in  another 

lis  enviable 

•  traitorous 
'fing  and 

St  seleeted 

exchanged 

t  probable 

■ing,  or  at 

to  be  good 

I  obej  or- 

ine  treat- 

d  to  resist. 

Id  be  less 

se  of  ex- 

Jnded  en- 

ery  novy 

his  horar 


•I 


hav 


e  an 


JOURV\I,.  ^9 

opportunity  of  a  personal  communication  with  Mr.  Assent 
Miller,  we  represcnti'd  to  him  that  thera  were  several  oi* 
the  prisoners  destitute  of  comfortable  clothing;  that  tlin 
clothes  of  some  were  not  even  decent  to  cover  those  part^ 
of  the  body  that  even  our  savag-o  Indians  conceal,  and  he 
promised  to  accommodate  them;  but  we  never  heard  any 
more  of  him  or  the  clothing.  However  it  may  be  account- 
ed for,  we  saw  this  man  part  from  us  with  regret.  It 
seemed  to  be  losing  an  old  acquaintance,  while  we  wero 
going  we  knew  not  where — to  meet  wc  knew  not  what. 

Previous  to  our  sailing  we  had  applied  to*Wr.  Mitchelty 
the  American  agent,  for  a  supply  of  clothing ;  but  from 
some  cause  or  other,  he  did  not  relieve  the  wants  of  ous* 
suffering  companions.  Mr.  Mitchell  may  be  a  very  good 
man  ;  but  every  good  man  is  not  fit  for  every  station.  Wo 
had  rather  see  old  age,  or  decrepitude,  pensioned  by  tho 
government  we  support,  than  employed  in  stations  that 
require  high  health  and  activity.  Disease  and  infir- 
mity may  check  or  impede  the  benevolent  views  of  our 
government,  and  cast  an  odium  on  the  officers  of  adminis- 
tration. After  all,  we  may  find  fault  where  we  ought  to 
praise.  It  is  possible  that  wc  may  not  have  made  due  al- 
lowance for  Mr.  Miller,  tho  British  agent,  and  we  may 
have  sometimes  denounced  him  in  terms  of  bitterness, 
M'hen  he  did  not  deserve  it.  His  general  conduct,  however, 
wc  could  not  mistake. 

On  the  third  of  September,  1813,  we  sailed  from  Hali- 
fax in  company  with  the  Melpomene,  a  man  of  war  trans- 
port, armed  en  flute.  On  board  of  this  ship  were  a  num- 
ber of  Irishmen,  who  had  enlisted  in  our  regiments,  and 
^vere  captured  in  Upper  Canada,  fighting  under  the  colors 
of  the  United  States  of  America;  or,  in  the  language  ol.' 
the  English  government,  found  fighting  against  their  kine; 
and  country.  The  condition  of  these  Irishmen  was  Irnly 
pitiable.  Unable  to  live  in  their  own  oppressed  country, 
they,  in  imitation  of  onr  fore-fathers^  left  their  native 
land  to  enjoy  liberty,  and  the  fruits  of  their  labor  in 
another.  They  abandoned  Ireland,  where  they  were  op- 
pressed, and  chose  this  country,  where  they  were  protected 
and  kindly  treated.  Many  of  them  had  married  in  America, 
antr  considered  it  their  home.  Hero  they  cho?e  to  live, 
and  here  they  wished  to  die.  As  few  of  them  had  trades, 
they  got  their  living  m  laborers,  or  a?  seamien.    The  em~ 

a* 


at 


JOURNAL. 


Iinrsines  and  the  Mar  threw  them  out  of  busincsis,  and  many 
ui'them  enlisted  in  our  army;  that  is,  in  the  army  ut*  the 
country  which  tiiey  had  chosen,  and  had  a  ri^ht  tu  ciioose. 
Neither  our  nor  their  consciences  forbade  them  to  fi,^ht 
for  us,  against  the  English  and  their  allies,  the  Indians. 
In  their  eyes,  and  in  the  eye  of  our  laws,  no  imputation  of 
crime  could  be  attached  to  their  conduct;  yet  were  these 
men  seized  from  among  other  prisoners,  taken  in  battle, 
and  sent  together  in  one  ship,  as  traitors  and  rebels  to, 
4neir  country.  We  fled  from  our  native  land,  said  these 
unfortunate  men,  to  avoid  the  tyranny  and  oppression  of 
our  British  task-masters,  and  the  same  tyrannical  hand 
)iHs  seized  ns  here,  and  sent  us  back  to  be  tried,  and  per> 
liaps  executed  as  rebels.  Beside  the  privations,  hanger 
and  miseries  that  we  endured,  these  poor  Irishin'^n  had  be- 
fore their  eyes,  the  apprehension  of  a  violent  nud  igno- 
minious death.  While  we  talked  among  our^eives  of  the 
hard  fate  of  these  brave  Hibernians,  we  were  ashamed  to 
lament  our  own. 

I  cannot  help  remarking  here,  that  the  plan  of  retalia- 
tion determined  by  President  Madison,  merits  the  respect 
and  gratitude  of  the  present  and  future  generations  of  men. 
U  was  this  energetic  step  that  saved  the  lives,  and  insur- 
ed the  usual  treatment  of  ordinary  prisoners  of  war  to 
tliese  American  soldiers  of  Irish  birth.  This  firm  deter- 
mination of  the  American  executive  arrested  thtt  bloody 
luind  of  the  British.  They  remembered  Major  »Sndre, 
und  they  recollected  Sir  James  ^sgill,  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  great  Washington,  and  they  trembled  for 
1  he  fnie  of  their  own  oflicers.  May  eternal  blessings  here, 
und  hereafter,  be  the  reward  of  Madison,  for  his  righteous 
intention  to  retaliate  on  the  enemy  any  public  punishment 
ibnt  should  be  executed  on  these  American  soldiers,  of 
Jrish  origin.  While  we  feel  gratitude  and  respect  to  the 
head  of  the  nation  for  his  scheme  of  retaliation,  we  cannot 
suppress  our  feelings  of  disgust  towards  the  faction  in 
tfur  own  country,  who  justified  the  British  government  in 
iheir  conduct  towards  these  few  Irishmen,  and  condemned 
our  own  for  protecting  them  from  an  ignominious  death.  I 
speak  it  with  shame  for  my  country,  the  ablest  writers  of 
ihe  oppositionists,  and  the  oldest  and  most  celebrated 
ministers  of  religion,  employed  their  pens  and  their  voicei 
to  conAemn  Mi\  t^laflison  9.nd  to  justify  the  British  dofii' 


¥ 


■I 


•  f> 


2SS,  and  many 
?  ^^^n^|  or  tlie 
^'•t  to  clioose. 
lliem  to  fi^ht 
tlie  Imlians. 
'nputtitioD  of 
t   were  these 
fen  in  battJe, 
nd  rebels  to, 
»  said  tiiese 
Ppression  of 
nnical  hand 
'd,  and  per- 
ang,  hiin£|;er 
n-nhad  be- 
t  find  ijwno- 
eives  of  the 
as/mmed  to 

^^  retalia- 
the  respr>et 
ons  of  men. 
and  insur- 
"f  war  to 
firm  deter- 
'i«»  hloody 
for  ^ndre, 
^  adminis. 
snibled  for 
'ngs  here, 
righteous 
■nishment 
Idiers,  of 
ect  to  the 
*'e  cannot 
action  in 
nment  in 

ndemned 
eath.  I 
nters  of 
lebrated 
r  voiceg 
sh  doVit 


:!t 


I 


JOURNAL. 


85 


trine.  This  is  a  deep  stain  on  the  character  of  onr  eler- 
"•y  ;  ami  the  suliscqiieut  vouduet  of  the  iSritiith,  niuy  serve 
to  shew  these  ever  ineddlinu;  men,  that  our  enemies  des- 
pised them  and  respected  Madison. 

Our  voyas^e  across  the  Atlantic  atforded  hut  few  inci- 
dents for  remark.     Kvery  day  brought  the  same  distressed 
sensations,  and   every   night    the  same    doleful  feelings, 
arising"  from  ilarkness,  stench,  increasetl  debility  and  dis- 
ease.      i  he  general  and  most  distressing  :n  the  catalogue 
of  our  miseries,  was  the  almost  unceasing  toiinent  of  hun- 
ger.    Many  oK  us  would  have  gladly  partuken  with   our 
father's  hogs,  in  their  hog-troughs.    This  barbarous  system 
of  starvation  reduced  several  of  our  hale  and  hearty  young 
men  to  mere  skeletons.     What  with  the  allowance  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  allowance  from  our  own  government,  in 
which  was  good  hot  coftee  for  breakfast,   we  were  gener- 
ally robust  and  hearty  at  Melville  Island      Home  of  our 
companions  might  well  be  called  line  looking  fellows,  when 
we  came  tirst  on  board  the  Regulus,  but  before  we  arrived 
on  the  coast  of  England  they  were  so  reduced  and  weaken- 
ed, that  they  tottered  v£^  they  walked.     It  was  the  opinion 
of  us  all,  tiiat  one  young  man  absolutely  died  for  want 
of  sullicient  food  !    Yes  !  Christian  reader,  a  young  Amer- 
ican, who  was  carried  on  board  the  Kegulus,  man  of  war 
transport,  perished  for  want  of  sutlicieut  to  eat.     In  this 
iMsufticicney  of  food,  complaint  was  made  to  the  Captain 
of  the  Regulus,  but  it  produced  no  increase  of  the  scanty 
allowance  ;  and  had  the  common  sailors  possessed  no  more 
humanity  than  their  oHieers,  we  might  all  have  perished 
with  hunger.    You  who  never  felt  the  agonizing  torture  of 
hunger,  can  have  no  idea  of  our  misery.     The  study  of  my 
profession  had  acquainted  me,  that  when  the  stomach  is 
empty  and  contracted  to^a  certain  degree,  that  it,  in  a 
measure,  acts  upon  itself,  and  draws  all  the  neighbouring 
organs  into  sympathy  with  its  distress  :  thier  increases  to 
an  agony  that  ends  in  distraction ;  for  it  is  well   known 
that  those  who  are  starved  to  death,  die  raving  distracted ! 
Some  of  us  in  the  course  of  this  horrid  voyage  could  have 
eaten  a  puppy  or  kitten  could  we  have  laid  hands  upon 
either. 

Our  constitutions,  mind  and  body  united,  were  so  con- 
stantly impressed  and  worried  with  the  desire  of  eating, 
tUat  the  torment  followed  us  in  our  gleep.    We  were  con- 


3(1 


JOUR-NAT.. 


-■,t! 


nrf 


i 

it  i 

11 


stantly  th'eaniins*  of  tables  finely  spread  with  a  plenty  oral! 
t!4r)su  1^00(1  and  savouring  tliinij;:*  witli  which  wa  used  to  be 
restated  at  homC)  when  wc  would  wake  smacking  our  lip.9, 
and  groaning  with  disappointment.  1  pretend  not  to 
say,  that  the  allowance  wa:4  sutticient  to  keep  some  men 
pretty  comfortable,  but  it  was  not  half  enough  for  somo 
others.  It  is  well  known  in  common  life,  that  one  man 
will  eat  three  times  as  much  as  another.  The  quality  oi' 
the  bread  served  out  to  us  on  board  the  Rcgulus,  was  not 
1^t  and  proper  for  any  human  being.  It  was  old,  and 
more  like  the  powder  of  rotten  wood  than  bread-stuft', 
and  to  crown  ail,  it  was  full  of  worms.  Often  !.ave  I 
seen  our  poor  fellows  viewing  their  daily  allowance  of 
bread,  with  mixed  sensations  of  pain  and  pleasure,  with 
smiles  and  tears,  not  being  able  to  determine  whether  they 
had  best  eat  it  all  up  at  once,  or  to  eat  it  in  small  portions 
through  the  day.  Some  would  devour  all  their  bread  at 
oncCjWorms  and  all,  while  others  would  be  eating  small 
portions  through  the  day.  Some  picked  out  the  worms, 
and  threw  them  away,  others  cat  them,  saying  that  they 
might  as  well  eat  the  worm  as  his  habitation.  Some  rea- 
soned and  debated  a  long  timo  on  the  subject.  Prejudice 
said,  throw  the  na&ty  thing  away,  while  knawing  hunger 
held  his  hand.  Birds,  said  they,  are  nourished  by  eating 
worms,  and  if  clean  birds  eat  them  why  may  not  man  ? 
AVho  feels  any  reluctance  at  eating  ei  an  oyster,  with 
all  its  parts,  and  why  not  a  worm  ? 

One  day  while  we  were- debating  the  subject,  one  of  our 
jack  tars  set  us  a  laughing^  by  crying  out — "  Retaliation 
by  G— ,  these  d"-^  worms  eat  us  when  we  are  deady  and  so 
me  will  eat  ihemjirstJ*  This  shews  that  misery  can  some- 
times laugh.  1  have  observed  that  a  sailor  has  generally 
more  laughter  and  good  humour  in  him  than  is  to  be  found 
among  any  other  class  of  men.  They  have  beside  a  great- 
er share  of  compassion  than  the  soldier.  We  had  repeat- 
ed instances  of  their  generosity ;  for  while  the  epaulettcd 
officers  of  this  British  ship  treated  us  like  brutes,  the 
common  sailors  would,  now  and  then,  give  us  of  their  own 
allowance  ;  but  they  took  care  not  to  let  their  oflUcers 
know  it. 

The  Regulus  had  brought  Bri(ish~ soldiers  to  America, 
and  among  the  rags  and  lilth  left  behind  them  were  my- 
riadis  of  fleas.    These  wxre  at  fii'st  a  source  of  vexation^ 


m 


■  ■:i>> 


r^SflBTT  5ttWMJ|^^ 


jou&nal; 


ar 


y  "scil  to  be 
ing  ^»r  Jip,, 
^<^"J  not   to 
>  some  men 
•"  ^JT  some 
*t  one  man 
^  finality  ol' 
"s,  was  not 
f'  old,  and 
"•ead-sNift; 
''en  .'.ave  I 
owanco  of 
sure,  uitli 
'«'thcrt/iey 
"  portions 
["  ''read  at 
•»5  small 

^e  norms, 
that  tliey 

*ome  rea- 

t^'-ejiidico 

.(¥  hunger 

'y  ea(inj> 

'>t  nian> 

er,  with 

e  of  our 
aliation 
y  and  so 
n  some- 
neralljr 

e  found 

great- 

•epeat- 

ilettcd 

s,  the 

r  own 

fficers 

?rica, 
my- 
tiott,  . 


■  ;*■■ 


iiut  at  length  their  destnietiou  became  an  amusement* 

We  could  not,  however,  overcome  them ;  lii(e  the  perse- 

\   euted  Christiaiit  of  old  times,  when  you  killed  one,  twen- 

ty  would  seem  to  rise  up  in  his  place.     Had  I  have  known 

!    what  1  have  since  learnt,  and  had  been  provided  with  (he 

essential  oil  of  penu)  royal,  we  should  have  conquered  all 

these  light  troops  in  a  few  days.     A  few  drops  of  this  es- 

V   benlial  oil,  dropped  here  and  there  upon  the  blankets  in^ 

I  fested  with  fleas,  and  they  will  abandon  the  garment.    The 

y  eilluvium  of  it  destroys  them.  • 

Confined  bel«w,  we  knew  little  of  what  was  going  on 
iijion  deck ;  some  of  us,  however,  were  more  or  less  there 
every  day.     Nothing  ocenrr'>d  worthy  notice  during   our 
passage  !u  England,  excepting  t)ie  retaking  of  a  brig  cap- 
tured u  few  hours  before  on   the  Grand  Dank  by  the  fri- 
gate Pk'esiilent,  Commodore  (lodgers.     From  information 
obtiiiueii  from  the  niidsiiipman  who  commanded  the  prize^ 
we  learnt  the  course  of  the  President,  whereupon  we  al- 
tered  ours  (a  avoid  being  captured.     A  few  hours  al'ter 
this,  we  foil  in  with  the  iicllerophon,  a  British  seventy- 
i'uur,  vviio  went,  from  our  information,   in  pursuit  of  the 
President.     We  could  easily   perceive  that  the  fame  of 
our  frigates  had  inspired  these  masters  of  the  ocean  with 
u  degree  of  respect  bordering  on  dread.     We  overheard- 
the  sailors  say,  that  they  had  rather  fall  in  with   two 
French  frigates  than  one  American.     We  thought,  or  it 
might  be  conceit,  that  we  were  spoken  to  with  more  kind» 
ness  at  this  time.     1  ha\'e  certainly  had  occasion  for  re- 
marking, that  prosperity  increases   ^he  insults  and  hard 
heartcilness  of  the  British,  and  that  we  never  received  sd 
much  humane  attention  as  when  they  apprehended  an  at- 
tack from  us,  as  in  the  case  of  alarm  at  Halifax.     I  was 
brought  up,  all  my  life,  even  until  1  left  my  father's  house, 
and  came  off  without  calculation,  or  reflection  on  this  wild 
adventure  in  a  privateer,  in  the  opinion  that  the  Guglish 
were  an  humane,  generous  and  magnanimous  people,  and 
that  none   but    Turks,   Frenchmen   and   Algeriues,  were 
cruel  ;  but  my  experience  for  three  years  past   has  cor- 
rected my  false  notions  of  this  proud  nation.     If  they  do 
not  impale  men  as  the  Algerines  and  Turks  do,  or  roast  a 
man  as  the  Indians  i\o,  and  as  the  Inquisitors  do,  they  will 
leave   him  to  starve,  and   linger  out  his  miserable  days 
in  the  hole  of  a  ship,  or  in  a  prison^  where  the  blessed 


^8 


JOURNAL 


air  is  changed  into  a  poison,  antV  where  the  articles  givch 
him  to  eat,  arc  far  worse  in  qirality  than  the  swill,  with 
which  t!  c  American-  farmer  feeds  his  hop;s  (low  can 
an  oGcer,  how  can  aiiy  man,  holdin;;  in  society  the  rank 
•f  a  gentleman,  set  down  to  his  meal  in  his  cabin,  when 
he  has  a  hundred  of  his  fellow  creatures,  some  of  them 
brojight  up  with  delicacy  and  refinement,  and  with  the 
feelings  of  gentlemen — I  say,  how  can  he  sit  composedly 
down  to  his  dinner,  while  men,  as  good  as  himself,  are 
suft'ering  for  want  of  food  There  is  in  this  conduct, 
either  a  cold  blooded  cruelty,  or  a  stupidity  and  want  of 
reflection,  that  does  no  honour  to  that  officer,  or  to  those 
who  gave  him  his  command. 

It  happened,  when  some  of  us  were  allowed,  in  our  turn- 
to  be  on  deck,  that  we  would  lay  hohl  and  pull  or  belay 
a  rope  when  needed.  When  we  arrived  at  Portsmouth, 
which  was  the  fifth  of  October,  we  were'  visited  by  the 
health  ol!it*er  ;  and  when  we  again  weighed  anchor  to  go 
to  the  quarantine  ground,  the  boatswain's  mate  came  to 
tcl!  us,  that  it  was  the  captsiin'i^  order,  that  we  should 
tumble  up,  and  assist  at  the  capstarfr.  Accordingly  threo 
or  four  went  to  assist ;  but  one  of  our  veteran  tars  bid  him 
to  go  and  tell  his  captain,  that  hunger  and  labour  wero 
not  friends,  and  never  would  go  together  ;  and  that  front 
prisoners  who  subsisted  three  days  in  a  week  on  pea-water^ 
could  only  give  him  pea-water  assistance.  This  speech 
raised  the  temper  of  the  officer  of  the  deck,  who  sent  down 
some  marines,  who  drove  us  all  up.  There  was  amona; 
us  a  Dutchman,  who  was  very  forward  in  complying  with 
the  officer's  request ;  but  being  awkward  and  careless 
withall,  he  saftered  himself  to  be  jambed  between  the  end 
of  the  capstan-bar  and  the  side  of  the  ship,  which  hurt 
him  badly.  Some  of  the  prisoners  collected  round  their 
wounded  companion,  when  the  officer  of  the  deck  ordered 
thcra  to  take  the  d — d  blunder-headed  fellow  below,  and 
let  some  American  take  his  place  ;  but  after  this  expres- 
sion of  brutality  towards  the  ponr  jambod  up  Dutchman, 
uot  a  man  would  go  near  the  capstan,  so  one  of  their  own 
c-rew  filled  up  the  vacancy  made  by  the  wounded  Hol- 
lander. 

A  Mr.  S  ■  -,  who  had  some  office  of  distinction  in 
Newfoundland,  if  I  mistake  not  he  was  the  first  in  com- 
mand of  that  dreary  island.    This  gentleman,  who  I  think 


f 


_„  .^„  .^-'^-Tr-T-SjKHr-.;. 


lOLKNALt 


31t 


articles  givciv 
he  swili,  with 
?8  How  can 
siety  the  rank 
s  cabin,  when 
some  of  them 
and  with  the 
it  composedly 
himself,  are 
this  conduct, 
f  and  want  of 
!•»  or  to  those 

[Jj  in  onr  turn" 
pnll  or  belay 

Portsmouth, 

sited  by  tho 

anchor  to  go 

Jn.to  came  to 

t  we  shouhf 

dingly  threo 

tars  bid  him 

labour  wero 

id  that  from 

f»  pea-water f 

I'his  speech 

o  sent  down 

was  antons,* 

?Iying  with 

^d  careless 

en  the  end 

hich  hurt 

ound  their 

k  ordere<I 

»«low,  and 

is  expres- 

Jntehman, 

their  own 

nded  llol- 

nction  in 
t  in  coMi- 
10  I  think 


Jtliey  called  General  Smith,  was  passenger  on  board  the 

llegulus  ;  one  day,   when  1  was  upon  deck,  he  asked  mc 

jliow  many  of  the  hundred  prisoners  could  read  and  write. 

^  told  him  that  it  was  a  rare  Ihi  jg  to  find  a  person,  male 

]or  female,  in  New  England,  who  could  not  write  as  well 

us  read.    Then,  said  he,  New  England  must  he  covered 

>3vilh  charity  schools.     1  replied,  that  we  had  no  charity 

schools,  or  very  few;  at  which  he  looked  aa  if  he  thought 

1  had  uttered  an  absurdity      1  then  related  in  a  few  word* 

0nr  school  system.     I   told  him,  that  the  primary  condi- 

,  lion  of  every  town  in  Massachusetts,  and  1  believed  in  the 

^thcr  four  New  England  States,  was  a  reserve  of  land, 

>nnd  a  bond  to  maintain  a  school  or  schools,  according  to 

4he  number  of  inhabitants ;  that  the  teachers  were  sup- 

-Iported  by  a  tax,  in  the  same  way  as  we  supported  onr 

•«lergy ;   that  such  schools  were  opened  to  every  child, 

•iVom  the  children  of  the  first  magistrate  down  to  thechil- 

,;^1ren  of  the  constable;  and  thai  there  was  no  distinction, 

promotion  or  favour,  but  what  arose  from  talent,  industry 

4^nd  good  behaviour.     I  told  him  that  the  children  of  the 

poorest  people,  generally  went  to  school  in  the  winter, 

Jnhilc  in  the  spring  and  summer  they  assi£ted  their  par- 

t«nts. 

He  walked  about  musing  awhile,  and  then  turning  back, 
Hsked  me  if  the  clergy  did  not  devote  much  of  their  time 
4o   the  instruction  of  our  youth— very  seldom,  sir — our 
vyoung  students  of  divinity  and  theological  candidates  very 
rbften  instruct  youth:  but  when  a  gentleman  is  once  ordain- 
ed and  settled  as.a  parish  minister,  he  never  or  very  rarely 
«'|kceps  a  school.     At  which  the  general  appeared  surpris- 
)Cd.     I  added  that  sometimes  episcopal  clergymen  kept  a 
«!tchool,  but  never  the  presbyteriun,  or  congregational  min- 
isters.    'He  asked  why  the  latter  could  not  keep  school  as 
'Mell  as  the  former;  1  told  him,  because  they  were  expect- 
tld  to  write  their  own  sermons,  at  which  he  laughed.     Be- 
■fiidcs  parochal  visits  consume  much  of   their  time,  and 
•when  a  congregation  have  stipulated  with  a  minister  to 
^li  the  pulpit,  and  preach  two  sermons  a  week,  visit  the 
;«ick  and  attend  funerals,  they  think  he  can  have  no  time 
to  write  sermons,  they  moreover  consider  it  derogatory  to 
'  the  honour  of  his  flock  to   be  obliged  to  keep  a  school-— 
,  when  1  told  him  that  our  clergymen  bent  all  their  force  to 
.  iustructiug  youth  in  morality  and  religion^  he  said,  t&el 


40 


JOURNAL. 


tliey  nttempt  (o  raise  a  striietore  before  thej  lay  a  founJia/- 
tion  for  it.  He  seemed  very  strenuoiiB  iha!  our  priests 
shoiiid  he  (employed  in  the  eilneatinn  of  youth,  us  he  con- 
ceived that  hired  sclmol  masters  had  not  the  pions  zeal 
that  the  priest  uould  have.  1  suspect,  said  (jleneral  S. 
that  your  priests  are  too  proud  and  too  laay.  1  perceived 
l>i^  idea  was,  that  a  school  master,  hired  to  undcrs^o  tlie 
drudg;ery  of  teachins;  hoys,  was  too  much  of  an  hireling 
to  nil  up  tu  the  full  the  important  duties  of  a  teacltor ; 
but  he  judged  of  them  by  the  numerous  Scotch  school 
masters  here  and  there  in  Canada,  Nova  8cotia,  the  ^v  est 
Inciia  islands  and  every  where,  teaching  for  money  merely. 
He  did  know  that  our  New  Eu&^land  school'  masters  were 
men  of  character  and  consequence.  Some  of  our  very  first 
men  in  the  United  States,  have  been  teachers  of  youth. 
At  tiiis  present  time  some  of  tlie  sons  of  the  first  men  in 
Massachusetts  are  village  school  masters  ;  that  is,  they 
keep  a  school  in  the  winter  vacations  of  the  University; 
some  of  them  for  the  first  year  after  leaving  college. 

1  was  much  pleased  with  the  general ;  and  have  since 
learnt,  that  he  was  a  very  worthy  and  benevolent  man  ; 
and  titat  he  had  paid  great  attention  to  the  education  of 
youth  in  Newfoundland  ;  and  that  it  was,  in  a  degree,  his 
ruling  passion.  I  wish  I  had  then  known  as  much  of  our 
school  system,  and  of  our  system  of  public  education  at 
our. Universities,  as  I  do  now  ;  for  I  might  have  gratified 
his  benevolent  disposition  by  the  rtcital.  The  ignorance 
of  English  gentlemen  of  the  people  of  America,  is  indeed 
surprising  as  well  as  mortifying.  By  their  treatment  of 
us,  it  is  evident  tliey  consider  us  a  sort  of  white  savages, 
with  minds  as  uncultivated,  and  dispoiiitions  as  ferocious 
as  their  own  allies,  with  their  tomahawks  and  scalping 
knives  After  conversing  with  this  worthy  Englishman, 
about  the  education  of  the  common  people  in  America,  I 
could  not  hut  say  to  myself,  little  do  you,  good  sir,  and 
your  haughty,  unfet ling  captain  imagine,  that  there  are 
those  among  the  hundred  miserable  men  whom  yon  keep 
confined  in  the  hold  of  your  ship  like  so  many  Galiipago 
turtles,  and  who  you  allow  to  suffer  for  want  of  sufficient 
food  ;  little  do  you  think  that  there  are  among  them  those 
who  have  sufficient  learninsto  la\  the  whole  storv  of  their 
sufferings  before  the  American  an»!  Kngiish  peiiple  ;  little 
do  you  imagine  that  the  inhumane  treatmept  of  men  every 


J  OUR N Al- 


ii 


f  lay  a  founJfa^ 

irtl  our   prii'sls 

itii,  an  he  coii- 

tlie  pions  xeal 

iid  Oeneral  S. 

'.     1  perceived 

to  undergo  tlie 

of  an  hireling 

I  of  a  teacher ; 

Seoteh  sehool 

:otia,  the  ^V  est 

money  merely. 

r  musters  were 

f  <»ur  very  iirst 

hers  of  youth. 

he  first  men  in 

;  tliat  is.    they 

t»e  University ; 

g  eollepje. 

and  have  since 

nevolent  man  ; 

le  education  of 

u  a  degree,  liis 

LS  much  of  our 

;  education  at 

have  gratified 

.'he  ignorance 

riea,  is  indeed 

treatnjent  of 

*!jite  sav.'^ges, 

s  as  ferocious 

and  scalping 

Englishman, 

n   America,  I 

e;ood  sir.  and 

hat  there  are 

lom  yon  keep 

ny  Gallipago 

t  of  sufficient 

)g  them  those 

story  of  their 

>eiiple  ;  iitlle 

of  men  everj' 


nvay  as  good  as  yourselves,  are  now  recording,  and  will  in 
lue  time  be  displayed  to  your  mortification. 
Our  sailors,  though  half  starved,  confined   and   broken 

^own  by  harsh   ireatment^  always  kept  up  the  genuine 

S^ankee  character,  which  is  that  of  being  grateful  and 

"  tractable  by  kind  usage,  but  stern,  inflexible  and  resentful 
^   lit  iiarsh  treatment.  ^  One  morning  as  the  general  and  the 

Captain  of  the  Kegulus  were  walking  as  usual  on  the  quar- 
ter deck,  one  of  our  Yankee  boys  passed  along  the  galley 
•ith  his  kid  of  burgoo.  He  rested  it  on  the  edge  of  the 
fatchway,  while  he  was  adjusting  the  rope  ladder  to  de- 
Iteend  with  his  swill.  The  thing  attracted  the  attention 
iff  tlie  general,  who  asked  the  man,  how  many  of  his  corn- 
fades  eat  of  that  quantity  for   their  breakfast  ?     "  Six, 

i»/r,"  said  the  man,  *'  but  it  is  fit  food  only  for  ho^s^s." 
This  answer  affronted  the  captain,  who  asked  the  man, 
in  an  angry  tone,  **  what  part  of  America  he  came  from  ?** 
*'  near  to  Bunker  Hill,  Sir — if  you  ever  heard  of  that 
jilace.**  They  looked  at  each  other  and  smiled,  turned 
,  about  and  continued  their  walk.  This  is  what  the  Eng- 
lish call  impudence.  Give  it  what  name  you  please,  it  is 
that  something  which  will  one  day  wrest  the  trident  from 
the  hands  of  Britannia  and  place  it  with  those  who  have 
tnore  humanity,  if  not  more  cultivated  powers  of  mind. 

^here  was  a  marine  in  the  Regulus,  who  had  been  wound- 
Id  on  board  the  Shannon  in  the  battle  with  the  Ghesa* 
iieake,  who  had  a  great  antipathy  to  the  Americans,  and 
'  ,r^Avas  continually  casting  reflections  on  the  Americans  gcn- 

"^rally.     He  one  day  got  into  a  high  dispute  with  one  of 

>ur  men,   which  ended  in  blows.     This  man  had  served 

%n  board  the  Constitution,  when  she  captured  the  Giierrier 

p\d  afterwards  the  Java.     After  the  two  wranglers  were 

leparated,  the  marine  complained  to  his  ofticer,  that  he 

lad  been  abused  by  one  of  the  American  prisoners,  and  it 

teaching  the  captain's  ears,  he  ordered  the  American  ou 

|he  quarter  deck,  and  inquired  into  the  cause  of  the  quar- 

Ifel.     When  he  had  heard  it  all,  he  called  the  American 

'tailor  a  d — d   coward  for  striking  a  wounded  man.    "  I 

am  no  coward.   Sir,"  said  the  high  spirited  Yankee  ;  ''  I 

was  captain  of  a  gun  on  board  the  Constitution  when  she 

captured  the  Guerriere,  and  afterwards  when  she  took  the 

.lava.     Had  I  been  a  coward  I  should  not  have  been  there.'* 

The  captain  called  him  an  insolent  scoundrel,  and  order- 


42 


JOURNAL. 


*>ii 


M^ii  n 


1;' 


cd  hiui  lo  his  hole  again.  V/ hat  the  British  naval  cofn- 
maiidcrs  call  insulence,  is  no  more  than  ihc  undaunted  ex- 
pression of  their  natural  and  habitual  independence. 
AVhcn  a  British  saUor  is  called  by  his  vaptain,  in  an  ant^ry 
tone,ontothoquarter  deck, he  turns  paie  and  trembles,  like 
a  thief  before  a  country  justice ;  but  not  so  the  American  ; 
he,  if  he  be  innocent,  speaks  his  mind  with  a  tirm  tone  and 
steady  countenance  ;  and  if  he  feels  himself  insulted,  he 
is  not  afraid  to  deal  in  sarcasm.  In  tJie  instances  just 
mentioned,  Jonathan  knew  full  well  that  the  very  name  of 
Bunker  Hillt  the  Guerrure  and  the  Java,  was  a  deep  mor- 
tification to  John  Bull.  Actuated  by  this  sort  of  feeling, 
the  steady  Romans  shook  the  world. 

From  this  dis^ression,  let  us  return,  and  resume  our 
Journal.  We  arrived  ofi* Portsmouth  the  fifth  ol  October, 
1813  ;  and  were  visited  by  the  health  officer  and  ordered 
to  the  Mother-bank,  opposite  that  place,  where  vessels 
ride  out  their  quarantine. .  The  next  day  the  ship  was  fu- 
migated, and  every  exertion  made  by  the  officers  to  put  her 
in  a  condition  for  inspection  by  the  health-otlicer.  Letters 
were  fumigated  by  vinegar,  or  nitrous  acid,  before  they  were 
a,llowed  to  go  out  of  the  «hi{).  Tjhcir  attention  was  next 
turned  to  us,  miserable  prisoners.  We  were  ordered  to 
wash,  and  put  on  clean  shirts.  Being  informed  that  many 
of  us  had  not  a  second  shirt  to  put  on,  the  captain  took 
down  the  names  of  such  destitute  meji,  but  never  supplied 
them  with  a  single  rag. 

The  prisoners  were  now  as  anxious  to  go  on  shore,  and 
to  know  the  extent  of  their  misery,  as  the  captain  of  the 
Regulus  was  to  get  rid  of  u.s.  The  most  of  us,  therefore, 
joined  heartily  in  the  task  of  cleansing  the  ship,  and  in 
white-washing  the  lower  deck,  or  the  place  we  occupied. 
Some,  either  through  JaKiitess  or  resentment,  refused  to  do 
any  thing  about;  but  the  rest  of  us  said,  that  it  was  al- 
ways customary  in  America,  when  we  left  a  house,  or  a 
room  we  hired,  to  leave  it  clean,  and  it  was  ever  deemed 
disreputable  to  leave  an  apartment  dirty.  The  oiHicers 
of  the  ship  tried  to  make  them,  and  began  to  threaten 
them,  but  they  persisted  in  their  refusal,  and  every  at- 
tempt to  force  them  was  fruitless.  I  do  not  myself  won- 
der that  the  British  ofl&cers,  so  used  to  prompt  and  even 
servile  obedience  of  their  own  men,  were  ready  to  knock 
some  of  our  obstinate^  sattcy  fellows^  on  the  head.    This 


JOURNAL, 


4S 


1  naval  coiw- 
ruluunted  ex- 
idependeiice. 
,  in  au  ant^ry 
renibles,  like 
e  American  ; 
lirm  tone  and 

insulted,  he 
nstanees  jiiSit 
very  name  ef 

a  deep  nior- 
rt  of  feeling, 

I  resume  our 

li  ol  October, 

and  ordered 

here  vessels 

ship  was  fu- 

ers  to  put  her 

icer.   Letters 

ore  they  were 

^on  was  next 

e  ordered  to 

d  that  many 

captain  took 

ver  supplied 

in  shore,  and 

ptain  of  the 

IS,  therefore, 

ship,  and  in 

we  occupied. 

refused  to  do 

at  it  was  al- 

house,  or  a 

ever  deemed 

The  ofllicers 

to   threaten 

d   every  at- 

niyself  won- 

pt  and  evea 

dy  to  knock 

head.    This 


it^ 


hrin^  to  my  mind  the  concise  hut  just  observation  of  an 
English  traveller  through  the  United  States  of  America. 
After  saying   that  the  inhabitants  south  of  the  Hudson 
were  a  niixed  race  of  English,  Irish,  Scotch,  Dutch,  Ger- 
mans and  Swedes,  among  whom  you  could  observe  no  pre- 
cise national  character;  he  adds,  "but  as  to  New-Eng- 
land, they  are  all  true  English,  and  there  you  see  one  uni- 
form trait  of  national  manners,  habits  and   disposition. 
The  people  are  hardy,  industrious,  humane,  obliging,  ob- 
stinate and  brave.     By  kind  and  courteous  usage,  mixed 
with  flattery,  you  can  lead  them  like  so  many  children  al- 
most as  you  please  ;'*  but^  he  adds,  "  the  Devil  from  h-^l, 
with  fire  in  one  hand^  and  faggots  in  the  other  ^  cannot  drive 
them.^'    Neither  Ceesar,  nor  Tacitus  ever  drew  a  more  true 
and  concise  character  of  the  Gauls,  er  Germans,  than  this. 
Here  is  seen  the  transplanted  Englii$hman,  enjoying  "  In- 
dian freedom,"  and  therefore  a  little  wilder  than  in  his 
native  soil  of  Albion ;  and  yet  it  is  surprising  that  a  peo- 
ple whose  ancestors  left  England  less  than  a  century  and 
a  half  ago,  should  be  so  little  known  to  the  present  court 
and  administration  of  Great  Britain.   Even  the  revolution- 
ary war  was  not  sufficient  to  teach  J»fin  Bull,  that  his  de- 
scendants had  improved   by  transplantation,  in  all  those 
qualities  for  which  stuffy  John  most  values  himself.      The 
present  race  of  Englishmen  arc  puffed  up  and  blinded  by 
what  they  have  been,  while  their  descendants  in   America 
are  proud  of  what  they  are,  and  what  they  know  they  shall 
be. 

After  the  ship  had  been  cleansed,  fumigated  and  par- 
tially white  tvashed,  so  as  to  be  fit  for  the  eye  and  nose  of 
the  health  oflicer,  she  was  examined  by  him,  and  reported 
free  from  contagion  !  Now  I  conceive  this  line  of  con- 
duct not  very  reputable  to  the  parties  concerned.  When 
we  arrived  off  Portsmouth,  our  ship  was  filthy,  and  I  be- 
lieve contagious ;  we  miserable  prisoners,  were  encrusted 
with  the  nastiness  common  to  such  a  place,  as  that  into 
which  we  had  been  inhumanly  crowded.  It  was  the  duty 
of  the  health  otficers  and  the  surgeon  of  the  Rcgulus,  to 
have  reported  her  condition  when  she  first  anchored,  and 
not  have  cleaned  her  up,  and  altered  her  condition  for  in- 
spection. In  the  American  service  the  eaptain,  surgeon 
and  jiealth  officer  Mould  have  all  been  cashiered  for  such 
a  dereliction  of  honor  and  duty.     This  is  the  way  that  the 


44: 


JOtRNJtL 


I 


m 


k 


I'  V 


irm 


i 


V 


nritisli  board  of  adniiralty,  the  transport  board,  the  pE'r* 
fi  anient  and  the  people  are  deceived  ;  and  this  corruption, 
which  more  or  less  pervades  the  whole  transport  service, 
n  ill  enervate  and  debase  their  boasted  navy.  We  cannot 
suppose  that  the  British  board  of  admiralty,  or  the  trans- 
port board  would  justify  the  cruel  system  of  starvation 
practised  on  the  brave  Americans  who  were  taken  in  Can- 
ada and  conveyed  in  their  floating  dunt^eons  down  the  riv- 
er St.  Lawrence  to  Halifax.  Some  of  these  captains  of 
transports  deserve  to  be  hanged  for  their  barbarity  to  our 
men,  and  for  the  eternal  hatred  they  have  occasioned  to- 
wards their  own  government  in  the  hearts  of  the  surviv- 
ing Americans.  We  hope,  for  the  honor  of  that  country 
whence  we  derived  our  laws  and  sacred  institutions,  that 
this  Jonrnal  will  be  read  in  England. 

TJie  Uegulus  was  then  removed  to  the  anchoring  place 
destined  for  men  of  war;  and  the  samL  night,  we  were 
laken  out,  and  put  on  board  the  Malabi'.r  store  ship,  where 
Me  found  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  our  w'ountrymen  in  her 
hold,  with  no  other  bed  to  sleep  on  but  the  stone  ballast. 
Here  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  emaciated  by  a  sys- 
tem of  starvation  cooped  up  in  a  small  space,  with  only 
an  aperture  of  about  two  feet  square  to  admit  the  air,  and 
with  ballast  stones  for  our  beds!  Although  in  the  har- 
bor, we  were  not  supplied  with  sufficient  water  to  quench 
our  thirst,  nor  with  sufficient  light  to  see  our  food,  or  each 
other,  nor  of  sufficient  air  to  breathe ;  and  what  aggravat- 
ed the  whole,  was  the  stench  of  the  place,  owing  to  a  di- 
arrhcea  with  which  several  were  aftected.  Our  situation 
was  truly  deplorable.  Imagine  to  yourself,  christian  read- 
er !  hvo  hundred  and  fifty  men  crammed  into  a  place  too 
small  to  contain  one  hundred  with  comfort,  stifling  for 
want  of  air,  pushing  and  crowding  each  other,  and  exert- 
ing all  their  little  remaining  strength  to  push  forward  to 
tlie  grated  hatch-way  to  respire  a  little  fresh  air.  The 
slronge&t  obtained  their  wish,  while  the  weakest  were 
pnshed  back,  and  sometimes  trampled  under  foot.  God 
of  mercy,  cried  I,  in  my  agony  of  distress,  is  this  a  sample 
of  the  English  humanity  we  have  heard  and  read  so  much 
of  from  our  school  boy  years  to  manhood  ?  If  they  are  a 
merciful  nation,  they  belong  to  that  class  of  nations 
*'  whose  tender  mercies  are  cruelty." 

Representations  were  repeatedly  made  to  the  captain 


JOURNACf 


45 


oard,  the  pE'r* 

his  corruption; 

nsport  service, 

We  cannot 

r,  or  the  trans- 

of  starvation 

taken  in  Can- 

i  down  the  riv- 

sc  captains  of 

irbarity  to  our 

occasioned  to- 

of  the  surviv- 

r  that  country 

titutions,  that 

H'horing  place 

ij^ht,   we  were 

re  ship,  wliere 

itrymen  in  her 

I  stone  ballast. 

:iated  by  a  sys- 

iice,  with  only 

it  the  air,  and 

I  in  the  har- 

itcr  to  quench 

food,  or  each 

hat  aggravat- 

wing  to  a  di- 

Our  situation 

hristian  read- 

a  place  too 

t,  stifling  for 

;r,  and  exert- 

h  forward  to 

sh  air.     The 

jveakest  were 

;r  foot.     God 

his  a  sample 

read  so  much 

f  they  are  a 

of  nations 

the  captain 


oFlhe  Malabar,  of  our  distressed  situation,  as  suffering 
extremely  by  heat  and  stagnant  air ;  for  only  two  of  us 
were  allowed  to  come  upon  deck  at  a  time  j  but  he  answer- 
d  that  he  had  given  orders  for  our  safe  treatment,  and 
■Safe  keeping  ;  and  he  was  determined  not  to  lose  his 
[ship  by  too  much  lenity.  In  a  word,  we  found  the  fel- 
low's heart  to  be  ns  hard  as  the  bed  we  slept  on.  Soon  af- 
i^er,  however,  our  situation  became  so  dangerous  and 
lilarming,  that  one  of  the  marine  corps  informed  the  captain 
|hat  if  he  wished  to  preserve  us  alive,  he  must  speedily 

five  us  more  air.  If  this  did  not  move  his  compassion,  it 
larmed  his  fears;  and  he  then  gave  orders  to  remove 
jthe  after  hatch,  and  iron  bars  fixed  in  its  place,  in  order 
to  prevent  us  from  forcing  our  way  up,  and  throwing  him 
into  the  sea,  a  punishment  he  richly  deserved.  This  al- 
teration rendered  the  condition  of  our  "  black  hole,'*  more 
tolerable;  it  was  nevertheless  a  very  I&athsome  dungeon  : 
for  our  poor  fellows  were  not  allowed  to  go  upon  deck  to 
relieve  the  calls  of  nature,  but   were  compelled   to  appro- 

triate   one  part   of  our  residence  to  this  dirty  purpose, 
'his,  as  may  be  supposed,  rendered  our^conlinement doubly 
;^|pisgusting,  as  well  as  unwholesome. 
"I    I  do  not  recollect  the  name  of  the  captain  of  the  Marla- 
|>ar,  and  it  may  be  as  well  that  I  do  not;  I  only  know  that 
?|ie  was  a  Scotchman.     It  may  be  considered  by  some  as 
;^||llibera'l  to  deal  in  national  reflections,  I  nevertheless  can- 
fliat  help  remarking  that  I  have  received  more  ill-treat- 
tvent  from  men  of  that  nation  than  from  individuals  of  any 
ther ;  and  this  is  the  general  impression  of  my  country- 
eu.     The  poet  tells  us,  that 

"  Cowards  arc  cruel,  but  the  brave 
*'  Love  mercy,  and  delight  to  save." 

The  Scotch  are  brave  soldiers,  but  we,  Americans,  have 
found  them  to  be  the  most  hard  hearted  and  cruel  people 
Hve  have  ever  yet  met  with.  Our  soldiers  as  well  as  sail- 
ers make  the  same  complaint,  insomuch  that  "  cruel  as  a 
Scotchman^''  has  become  a  proverb  in  the  United  States. 
The  Scotch  olHeers  have  been  remarked  for  treating  our 
officers,  when  in  their  power,  with  insolence,  and  expres- 
sions of  contempt ;  more  so  than  the  English  It  is  said 
that  a  Scotch  oflicer  that  superintends  the  horrid  whip- 
pings so  common  in  British  camps  is  eommouly  observed 

4* 


46 


JOURNAL. 


f   t  ' 


(' 


1()  he  more  hartl  hearted  than  an  Eng;1ish  one'.  It  is  ccv- 
tiiin  (hat  the^  are  generally  preferred  as  nej^ro-drivers  in 
the  West  India  Islands-  It  has  been  uniformly  remarked 
that  those  Scotchmen  whu  are  settled  on  the  Canada 
frontiers  were  remarkable  for  their  bitterness  towards  our 
men  in  captivity.  ^ 

We  speak  here  of  the  vagrant  Scotch,  the  fortune-hun- 
ters of  the  Caledonian  tribe,  at  the  same  time  we  respect 
her  philosophers  and  literary  men,  who  appear  to  us  to 
compose  the  first  rank  of  writers.  Without  mentioning 
their  Ossian,  Thompson  and  Burns,  we  may  enumerate 
their  prose  writers,  such  as  Hume,  and  the  present  associ- 
ation of  truly  learned  and  acute  men,  who  write  the  Edin^ 
hur^h  Review.  A  Scotchman  may  be  allowed  to  show 
pride  at  the  mention  of  this  celebrated  work.  As  it  re- 
p;ards  America,  this  northern  constellation  of  talent,  shines 
Inigblly  in  our  eyes.  The  ancient  Greeks,  who  once 
straggled  about  Rome  and  the  Roman  empire,  were  net 
(air  specimens  of  the  refined  Athenians. 

Our  poasniitry,  settled  around  our  own  frontier,  and 
around  (lie  shores  of  our  lakes,  have  a  notion  that  the 
Scotch  Highlanders  were,  not  Ions;  since,  the  same  kind 
<»f  wild,  half  naked  people  compared  with  the  true  Eng- 
lish, that  the  Choctawsy  Cherokees^  Pottowatomies  and 
Kickapoo  Indians  are  to  the  common  inhabitants  of  these 
United  States  :  that  less  than  an  hundred  years  ago, 
these  Seotqhmcn  were  in  the  habit  of  making  the  like 
scalping  and  tomahawking  excursions  upon  the  English 
farmer,  that  the  North  American  savage  makes  upon  the 
white  people  here.  This  is  the  idea  which  our  common 
people  have  of  what  Walter  Scott  calls  "  the  border  wars  ** 
Some  of  them  wiU  tell  you  that  the  Scotch  i^o  half  naked 
in  their  own  country,  and  wear  a  blanket,  and  kill  their 
enemies  with  a  knife  just  like  Indians.  They  say  their 
features  differ  from  the  English  as  much  as  theirylo  from 
the  Indian.  In  a  word,  to  suppose  the  Scotch  highlanders 
to  be  a  race  who  have  been  conquered  by  the  English,  who 
have  taught  them  the  use  of  fire  arms,  and  civilized  them 
in  a  degree  to  form  themselves  into  regiments  of  soldiers, 
and  this  imperfect  idea  of  the  half  savage  Sawney  will  not 
soon  be  corrected;  and  we  roust  say  that  the  general  con- 
duct of  this  harsh  arid  self-interested  race  towards  our 
jTrisaners,  will  not  expedite  the  period  of  correct  ideas  rel- 


J 


lie'.  It  is  ccr- 
l^ro-drivers  in 
inly  rcnmrked 
I  the  Canada 
ss  towards  oiii- 

J  A>rtiine-hun- 
ne  we  re^[»ect 
[ipear  to  us  to 
It  mentioning 
ay  enumerate 
ircsent  associ- 
rite  the  Ediri' 
)\ved  to  show 
rk.  As  it  re- 
'  talent,  shines 
ks,  who  once 
(ire,  were  net 

frontier,  and 
f)tion  that  the 
he  same  kind 
he  true  Eng- 
watomies  and 
ants  of  these 
1  years  ago, 
dng  the  like 

the  En^^Iish 
ikes  upon  the 

our  eomnioa 
wrder  wars  '* 
o  half  naked 
nd  kill  their 
ey  say  their 
heirylo  from 

high  landers 
^Inglish,  who 
vilized  them 
s  of  soldiers, 
wney  will  not 
general  eon- 
towards  our 
id  ideas  rel- 


JOURKAL.  f? 

y  alive  to  the  comparative  condition  of  the  Scotch  and  Eng- 
lisli.  The  Americans  have  imbibed  no  prejmliee  against 
the  Irish,  having  found  them  a  brave,  generous,  Jovial  set 
of  fellows,  full  of  fun,  and  full  of  good  kind  feelings,  the 
A  cry  antipoxles  of  Scotchmen,  who,  as  it  regards  those 
((iialities,  are  cold,  rough  and  barren,  like  the  land  that 
gave  the  n  birth. 

We  moved  from  Portsmouth  to  the  J\''ore  or  Noah,  for  I 
kFow  not  the  meaning  of  the  word,  or  ho\w  to  spell  it. 
The  place  so  called  is  the  mouth  of  tfie  river  Thames, 
ivhieh  runs  through  the  capital  of  the  British  nation    We 
were  three  days  on  our  passage.     Here  we  were  transfer- 
red to  several  tenders,  to  be  transported  lo  Chatham.  We 
goon  entered  the  river  Medway,  which  rises  in  Sussex,  and 
i  passes  by  Tunbridge,  .\l;udstone  and  liochester,  in  Kent, 
I  and  is  then  divided  iuto  two  branches,  called  the  east  and 
Hvest  passage.     The  chief  entrance  is  tiie  west,  and  is  dc- 
fouded  by  a  considerable  fort,  called  Sheerness.     In  this 
tj'iver  lay  a  number  of  Russian  men  of  war,  detained  hero 
l^robably  by  wa.y  of  pledge  for  the  fidelity  of  the  Emperor. 
v^r>Vhat  gives  most  celebrity  to  this  river  is  Chatham,  a  la- 
'■'ival  station,  where  the  English  build  and  lay  up  their  first 
#,rate  men  of  war.     It  is  but  about  thirty  miles  from  Lon- 
i|idon  ;  or  the  distance  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  from  the 
f^^own  of  Providence,     We  passed  up  to  where  the  prison 
^^ships  lay,  after  dark.    The  prospect  appeared  very  pleas-< 
J|ant,  as  the  prison  ships  appeared  to  us  illuminated.     As 
|we  were  all  upon  deck,  we  enjoyed  the  sight  as  we  passed, 
[and  the  commander  of  the  tender  appeared  <to  partake  of 
lour  pleasure.     We  were  ordered  on  board  the  Crown 
[Prince  prison  ship  ;  and  as  our  names  were  called  over,. 
rWe   were  marched  along  the  deck  between  two  rows  of 
emaciated  Frenchmen,  who  had  drawn  themselves  up  to 
preview  us.     We  then  passed  on  to  that  part  of  the  ship 
|>vhich  was  occupied  by  the  Americans,  who  testified  their 
curiosity  at  knowing  all  about  us,  and  sticking  to  their  na- 
tional characteristic,  put  more  questions  to  us^in  ten  min- 
utes, than  we  could  well  answer  in  as  many  hours.     We 
passed  the  evening  and  the  first  part  of  the  night  in  mu- 
tuah  communications ;  and  we   went  to  rest  with  more 
pleasure  than  for  many  a  night  before. 

Our  prison  ship  was  moored  in  what  they  called  Oilling- 
ham  reach.    We  wonld  here  reinarkj  that  the  river,  and 


ii 


u 


JOURNAL. 


■iS-'l 


Tliames,  and  Medway  make,  like  all  other  rivers  nonr  to 
(heir  outlets,  many  turnings  or  bendings  ;  »otne  forming  u 
more  obtuse,  and  some  a  more  acute  angle  with  their 
hanks.  This  course  of  the  river  com|iels  a  vessel  lo  ntretck 
along  in  one  direction*  and  then  to  stretch  along  in  a  verj 
diflferent  direction.  What  the  English  cull  reaching,  we 
in  America  call  stretching.  Each  of  these  different  courses 
of  the  river  they  call  '^reaches.**  They  have  their  long 
reach  and  their  short  reach,  and  a  number  of  reaches,  un- 
der local,  or  less  obvious  names.  Some  are  named  after 
some  of  their  own  pirates,  which  is  here  and  there  designat- 
ed by  a  gibbet;  a  singular  object,  be  sure,  to  greet  (he  eye 
of  a  stranger  nn  entering  the  grand  watery  avenue  of  the 
capital  of  the  British,  empire.  But  there  is  no  room  for  dis- 
puting concerning  our  tastes.  The  reach  where  our  prison 
was  moored  was  about  three  miles  below  Chatham ;  and 
is  named  from  the  village  of  Gillingham.  Now  whether 
reach  or  stretch  be  the  most  proper  for  an  effort  to  sail 
against  the  wind,  is  left  to  be  settled  by  those  reverend 
monopolizers  of  all  the  arts  and  sciences,  the  London  Re- 
viewers ;  who,  by  the  way,  and  we  mention  it  pro  bono 
vublico,  would  very  much  increase  their  stock  of  knowl- 
edge and  usefulness,  if  they  would  depute  a  few  missiona- 
ries to  pass  and  repass  the  Atlantic  in  a  British  transport, 
containing  in  its  black  hole  an  hundred  or  two  of  yankee 
prisoners  of  war.  It  would,  if  they  should  be  so  fortunate 
as  to  survive  the  voyage,  make  them  better  judges  of  the 
character  of  the  English  nation,  and  of  the  American  na- 
tion, and  of  that  nearly  lost  tribe,  the  Caledonian  nation. 
There  were  thirteen  prison  ships  beside  our  own,  all 
ships  of  the  line,  and  one  hospital  ship,  moored  near  each 
other.  They  were  filled,  priacipally,  with  Frenchmen, 
Danes  and  Italians.  We  found  on  our  arrival  twelve  hun- 
dred Americans,  chiefly  men  who  had  been  impressed  on 
hoard  British  men  of  war,  and  who  had  given  themselves 
up,  with  I*  declaration  that  they  would  not  light  against 
their  own  countrymen,  and  they  were  sent  here  and  confin- 
ed, without  any  distinction  made  between  them  and  those 
who  had  been  taken  in  arms^  The  injustice  of  the  thing 
is  glaring.  During  the  night,  the  prisoners  were  confined 
on  the  lower  deck  and  on  the  main  deck  ;  but  in  the  day 
time  they  were  allowed  the  privilege  of  the  '*  pound,"  so 
called,  and  the  fore-castle:  wbieh  was  a  comfortable  ar- 


f^j# 


/  •  ji' 


.tS3P  ' 


JOURNAL. 


w 


ivers  nonr  (o 

ne  fnrmiiit^  u 

e   uitii  ilieir 

isel  to  mtrc.tch 

)ng  in  a  rerj 

'caching,  we 

erent  courses 

ve  their  long 

reaches,  un- 

imincd  after 

ere  designat- 

greet  (he  eye 

ivenue  of  the 

room  for  dis- 

Te  our  prison 

liathum ;  and 

low  whether 

eftbrt  to  sail 

ose  reverend 

London  Re- 

1  it  pro  bono 

;k  of  knowl- 

\i\v  missiona- 

sh  transport, 

o  of  yankee 

so  fortunate 

udges  of  the 

Lmerican  na- 

•nian  nation. 

our  own,  all 

d  near  each 

Frenchmen, 

twelve  hun- 

mpressed  on 

themselves 

ght  against 

J  and  confin- 

in  and  those 

)fthe  thing 

ere  coniined 

:  in  the  day 

pound,"  so 

fortable  ar- 


raiigcmeni  compared  with  the  black  holes  of  the  Rcguliis 
Viw\  Malalmr.     There  were   three  officers  on  board  our 
[shij),  namely,  a  lieutenant,  a  sailing  master,  and   a  sur- 
•  geoii,   ti)gctiicr  with  sixty  marines  and  a  few   invalid,  or 
siipirannnatcd  seamen  to  go  in  the  heats.  The  whole  was 
under  the  command  of  a  commodore,  while  captain  Hutch- 
inson, agent  for  the  prisoners  of  war,  exercised  a  sort  of 
jeoutroui  over  the  whole  ;  but  the  butts  and  bounds  of  their 
Ijurisdietion  I  never  knew.     The  commodore  visited  each 
(of  the  prison  ships  every  month,  to  hear  and  redress  com- 
,  plaints,  and  to  correct  abuses,  and  to  enforce  wholesome 
•  re^-ulatioiis.     All  written  communications,  and  all  inter- 
course by  letter  passed  through  the  hands  of  capt.  Hutch- 
jinson.     If  tlie  letters  contained  nothing  of  evil  tendency, 
i^t'ey  wcresurtered  to  pass;  but  if  they  contained  any  thing 
t^which   the  agent  deemed  improper,  they  were  detained. 
{Complaints  were  sometimes  made  when  those  who  wrote 
'Uhem  thought  they  ought  not. 

'l    We  found  our  situation  materially  altered  for  the  better. 

.|Our  allowance  of  food  was  more  consouaut  to  humanity 

^  Ihan  a^  Halifax,  much  more  to  the  villainous  scheme  af 

•tarvati:)n  on  board  the  Regulus,  and  the  still  more  exe- 

•^f  rable  Malabar.     Our  allowance  of  food  here  was  half  a 

tound  of  beef  and  a  gill  of  barley,  one  pound  and  a  half  of 
read,  for  five  days  in  the  week,  and  one  pound  of  cod-fish, 
.and  one  pound  of  potatoes,  or  one  pound  ef  smoked  her- 
>^ing  the  other  two  days;  and  porter  and  small  beer  were 
.|allowed  to  be  sold  to  us.  <  Boats  with  garden  vegetables 
^visited  the  ship  daily,  so  that  we  now  lived  in  clover  com- 
%)ared   with  our  former  hard  fare  and   cruel   treatment. 
IJpun  the  whole,  I  believe  that  we  fared  as  well  as  could 
Jbe  expected,  all  things  considered,  and  had  such  fare  as 
'|ive  could  do  very  well  with ;  not  that  we  fared  so  well  as 
'|he  British  prisoners  fare  in  America.     Rich  as  the  Eng- 
lish nation  is,  it  cannot  well  afford  to  feed  us  as  we  feed 
,     the  British  prisoners;  such  is  the  difterenee  of  the  two 
countries  in  point  of  cheap  food.     On  thanksgiving  daj-, 
and  on  Christmas  days,  and  such  like  holy  days,  we  used 
to  tceat  these  Europeans  with  geese,  turkies  and  plumb 
pudding.     Ma.y  of  these  fellows  declared  that  they  never 
i'i  their  lives  sat  down  to  a  table  to  a  roasted  turkey,  or 
j^even   a   roasted  goose.     It  is  also  a  ftict,  that  when  the 
lime  approached  for  drafting  the  British  prisoners  to  send 


^ 


ir 


1 

■ 

(• 


HI 


•.J 


h^. 


^1 


#!• 


I 


^ 


JOURNAL. 


to  Halifax  to  cxchancje  them  for  our  own  men,  leveral  of 
the  patriotic  Englishineti,  and  many  Irishmen,  ran  away, 
and  when  taken  showed  us  much  chagrin  as  our  men 
Mould  have  felt,  had  they  attempted  to  desert  and  run 
homo  from  Halifax  prison,  and  had  been  seized  and 
brono^ht  back  !  'i'his  ^s  a  curious  fact,  and  worthy  the  at- 
tention of  the  British  politician.  *fln  ^merican^  in  Eng- 
land, pines  to  get  home  ;  while  an  Englishman  and  an  Iris/i- 
man  lories  to  become  an  Jimerican  citizen.  Ye  wise  men 
of  Kngland,  the  far  famed  England,  the  proud  island 
whence  we  originally  sprang,  ponder  well  this  fact  ;  and 
confess  that  it  will  finally  operate  a  great  change  in  our 
respective  countries,  and  that  your  thousand  ships,  your 
vast  commerce,  and  your  immense  (factitious)  riches  can- 
not alter  it.  This  inclination,  or  disposition,  grow  ing  up 
ix\  the  hearts  of  that  class  of  your  subjects  who  are  more 
disposed  to  follow  the  bent  of  their  natural  appetites  than 
to  cultivate  patriotic  opinions,  will  one  day  hoist  our  ^'  bils 
of  striped  bunting"  over  those  of  your  now  predominant 
flag,  and  you,  long  sighted  politicians,  sec  it  as  well  as  I 
do.  The  hard  fare  of  your  sailors  and  soldiers,  the 
scoundrelism  of  some  of  your  otiieers,  especially  those  con^ 
ccrned  in  your  provision  departments  ;  but  above  all  your 
shocking  cruel  punishments  in  your  navy  and  in  your  armr/y 
have  lessened  their  attachment  to  their  native  country. 
England  has,  from  the  beginning,  blundered  most  wretch* 
edly,  for  want  of  consulting  the  human  heart,  in  prefer- 
ence to  musty  parchments ;  and  the  equally  useless  books 
on  the  law  of  nations.  Believe  me,  ye  great  men  of  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  Ireland  and  Berwick  upon  Tweed  !  that 
one  chapter  from  the  Law  of  Human  JVature,  is  worth 
more  than  all  your  libraries  on  the  law  of  nations.  Be- 
side, gentlemen;  your  situation  is  a  new  one.  No  nation 
was  ever  so  situated  and  circumstanced  as  you  are,  with 
regard  to  us,  your  descendants.  The  history  of  nations 
does  not  record  its  parallel.  Why  then  have  recourse  to 
books,  or  maritime  laws,  or  written  precedents.  In  the 
code  of  the  law  of  nations,  you  stand  in  need  of  an  entirely 
«7V*ei£7  Chapter.  We  Americans,  we  despised  Americans, 
are  aecumulating.  as  fast  as  we  well  cai>,  the  materials 
for  that  chapter.  Your  government  began  to  write  this 
chapter  in  blood,  and  for  two  years  past  we  cu-operated 
with  yon  in  the  same  way.    Nothing  stands  still  within 


sSr 


JOURNAL. 


til 


I 


'11,  leveral  (li* 
Ml,  ran  nway. 
a»   our  men 
scrt  and  run 
1   sei/eii   and 
'orthy  the  at- 
crtM,  in  Ev^- 
and  an  Irish- 
Ye  wise  men 
proud  island 
his  fact  ;  and 
thange  in  our 
[1  ships,  your 
i)  riches  can- 
's growing  up 
who  are  more 
appetites  than 
oist  our  "  hi  1 8 
'  predominant 
t  as  well   as  I 
soldiers,   the 
\\\y  those  con- 
Lbove  all  your 
in  your  army^ 
itive  country, 
most  wretch- 
art,  in  prefer- 
useless  books 
;  men  of  Eng- 
Tweed!  that 
ure,  is  worth 
mtions.     Be- 
No  nation 
ou  are,  with 
vy  of  nations 
e  recourse  to 
ents.     In  the 
uf  an  entirely 
d  Americans, 
he  materials 
to  write  this 
co-operated 
still  within 


he  great  frame  of  nature.  On  every  sublunary  thing  mu- 
[abiiity  is  written.  Nothing  can  arrebt  the  destined 
|ouri>e  of  republics  and  kingdoms. 

"  Westward  the  course  of  empire  takes  its  way." 

It  is  singular  that  w  liile  the  Englishman  and  Irishmau 
re  disposed  to  abandon  their   native  countries  to  dwell 

ith  us  in  this  new  world, the  Scotchman  has  rarely  shown 
tlirtt  inclination.  No — Sawney  is  loyal,  and  talk^as  big; 
of  his  king,  and  his  cuiintri/,  as  would  an  En£;lish  country 
fquire,  surrounded  by  his  tenants,  his  iiorses,  and  his  dogs. 
It  is  singular  that  the  Laplander,  and  the  inhabitant  of 
Iceland,  are  as  much  attached  to  their  frightful  countries, 

fs  the  inhabitant  of  Italy,  France  or  England  ;  and  when 
varice,  and  the  thirst  for  a  domineering  command  leads 
tic  Scotchman  out  of  his  native  rocks  and  barren  hills,  and 
euless  country,  he  talks  of  it  as  a  second  paradise,  and 
the  ancient   Egyptians  longed  after  their  onions  and 
rlies,  so  these   half  dressed,  raw-boHed  mountaineers, 
Ik  in  raptures  of  their  country,  of  their  bag-pipes,  their 
ged  sheep's  head,  and  their  '"  haggiss."  The  only  way 

fat  1  can  think  of,  by  way  of  preventing  the  hearts  blood 
Old  England  from  being;  drained  oti'  in  America,  is  to 
Ijieople  Nova  Scotia  and  STewfoundland  with  Scotchaien, 
ifChere  they  can  raise  a  few  sheep  for  singeing  and  for 
ka^-gifis ;  and  where  they  can  wear  their  (jSothic  habit  and 
IliB  indulged  in  the  luxury  of  ihe  bag-pipe,  enjoy  over  again 
l^eir  native  fogs,  and  howling  storms,  and  think  them- 
l^lves  at  home.  Nature  seems  to  have  lixed  the  great  ar- 
ilcles  of  food  in  Nova  Seotia  to  fish  and  potatoes ;  this 
44^st  article  's  of  excellent  quality  iu  that  country.  Then 
jl|t  these  strangers,  these  hostes,  these  antipodes  to  tho 
ilmericans,  man  the  British  fleet,  and  fill  up  the  ranks  of 
^licir  armies,  and  mutual  antipathy  will  prevent  the  dread- 
ed ooAlition. 

But  1  hasten  to  return  from  these  people  to  my  prison 
jkip.  Among  other  conveniences,  we  had  a  sort  of  a  shed 
ected  over  the  hatch-way,  oi>  which   to  air  our  ham- 
ocks      This  was  grateful  to  us  all,  especially  to  those 
whose  learning  had  taus^ht  them  the  salutiferous  effects  of 
ll  free  circulation  of  the  vital  air.     It  is  snrpri'i'nL':.  that 
fter  what  the  English  philosophers  have  written  concern" 
ng  tUe  properties  of  the  atmospheric  air;  after  what 


(!■ 


• 


GZ 


JOUTIXAL. 


m 


I 


\l  :i 


■'r^ 


Boyle,  Mayhew,  Hales  and  Priestley  have  written  on  tl»ls 
subject  5  and  after  what  they  have  learnt  from  the  Iiistory 
of  the  Calcutta  hluck  hole  ;  and  after  what  llouard  has 
tanght  them  concerning;  prisons  and  hospitals,  it  is  snr- 
prising  that  in  1818,  the  cnnimandsrs  of  s^hips  in  the  Eng- 
lis^h  service,  should  be  allowed  to  thrust  a  crowd  of  men 
into  those  hideous  black  holes,  situated  in  the  bottom  of 
their  ships,  far  below  the  surface  of  the  water.  1  have 
sometimes  pleased  myself  with  the  hope  that  what  is  heie 
written  Viay  contribute  to  the  abolition  of  a  practice  so 
disi^raceful  to  a  nation  ;  a  nation  which  has  the  honor  of 
first  teaching  mankind  the  true  properties  of  the  air;  and 
of  the  philosophy  of  the  healthy  construction  of  prisons 
and  hospitals;  and  one  would  suppose  of  healthy  and  con- 
venient ships,  for  the  prisoner  as  well  as  for  their  own 
seamen. 

Our  situation,  in  the  day  time,  was  not  unpleasant  for 
prisoners  of  war.  Confinement  is  disagreeable  to  all  men, 
and  very  irksome  to  us,  yankees,  who  have  rioted,  as  it 
were,  from  our  infancy,  in  a  sort  of  Indian  freedom.  Our 
situation  was  the  most  unpleasant  during  the  night.  It 
was  the  practice,  every  night  at  sun-set,  to  count  the  pris- 
oners as  they  went  down  below;  and  then  the  hatch-ways 
are  all  bai'red  down  and  locked,  and  the  ladder  of  commu- 
nication drawn  up  ;  and  every  other  precaution  that  fear 
inspires  adopted,  to  prevent  our  escape,  or  our  rising  upon 
our  prison  keepers  ;  for  they  never  had  half  the  apprehen- 
sion of  the  French  as  of  the  Americans.  They  said  the 
French  were  always  busy  in  some  little  mechanical  em- 
ploy, or  in  gaming,  or  in  playing  the  fool ;  but  that  the 
Americans  seemed  to  be  on  the  rack  of  invention  to  escape, 
or  to  elude  some  of  the  least  agreeable  of  their  regulations. 
In  a  word,  they  eared  but  little  fur  the  Frenchmen  ;  but 
were  in  constant  dread  of  the  increasing  contrivance,  and 
persevering  efforts  of  us  Americans  They  had  built 
around  the  sides  of  the  ship,  and  little  above  the  surface 
of  tiie  waier,  a  stage,  or  flooring,  on  which  the  sentries 
walked  during  the  whole  night,  singing  out,  every  half 
hour,  **  aWs  welW*  Beside  these  sentries  marching 
around  the  ship,  they  had  a  floating-guard  in  boats,  row- 
ing around  all  the  ships,  during  the  live  long  night. 
"Whenever  these  boats  rowed  past  a  sentinel,  it  was  his 
duty  to  challenge  them^  aud  theirs  to  answer ;  and  this 


JOURN'At. 


BS 


vrltfen  on  this 
)in  ihe  Iiistory 
llouard  Una 
tul§,  if  is  6ur- 
)S  ill  the  fii)g< 
crowd  of  men 
the  bottom  of 
ater.  1  have 
t  what  is  heie 
a  practice  so 
s  t]ie  hoQor  of 
Pthe  air ;  and 
on  of  prisons 
ilthy  and  con- 
for  their  own 

npleasant  for 
le  to  all  men, 
3  rioted,  as  it 
reedom.     Our 
he  night.     It 
sount  the  pris- 
»e  hatch -ways 
Jer  of  commu- 
ion  that  fear 
r  rising  upon 
he  apprehen- 
^hey  said  the 
echanieal  em- 
hut  that  the 
tion  to  escape, 
r  regulations, 
^nchmen  ;  but 
itrivance,  and 
ey    had  built 
e  the  surface 
the    sentries 
it,  every  half 
es    marching 
n  boats,  row- 
I   long  night, 
el,  it  was  his 
er ;  and  this 


^S 


was  done  lo  ascertain  whether  they  were  French  «r 
American  boats,  come  to  surprise,  an<l  carry  by  boarding, 
the  Crown  Prince  !  We  used  to  laugh  among  ourselves  at 
this  ridiculous  precaution.  It  must  be  remembered,  tbiit^ 
we  were  then  up  a  small  river,  within  thirty-two  miles  of 
London,  and  three  thousand  miles  from  our  own  country. 
liowevcr,"  a  burnt  child  dreads  the  fire,"  and  an  EnglisJi- 
man*s  fears  may  tell  him,  that  w  hat  onqe  happened,  may 
happen  again.  About  one  hundred  and  fil'ty  years  a",'o, 
viz.  in  1667,  the  Dutch  sent  one  of  their  admirals  up 
the  river  Medway,  three  miles  above  where  we  now  lay, 
and  singed  the  beard  of  Jo/tw  Bull.  He  has  never  enti.eiy 
l>ot  over  that  fright,  but  turns  pale  and  trembles  qver 
dnce,  at  the  sight,  or  name  of  a  republican. 


CHAPTER  IIT. 


Our  prison-ship  contained  a  pretty  well  organiy-cd  coni- 
muuity.  We  were  allowed  to  establish  among  ourselves  an 
internal  police  for  our  own  comfort  and  self-govcrnmont. 
And  here  we  adhered  to  the  forms  of  our  own  adored  con- 
stitution ;  for  in  place  of  making  a  King,  Dukes  and 
Lords,  we  elected  a  President  and  twelve  Counsellors, 
who,  having  executiveas  well  legislative  powers,  we  called 
Committee  men.  But  instead  of  four  years,  they  were  to 
hold  theirf*  oftices  but  four  weeks  :  at  the  end  of  which  a  new 
set  were  chosen,  by  the  general  votes  of  all  the  prisoners. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  president  and  his  twelve  counsel- 
lors, to  make  wholesome  laws,  and  define  crimes,  and 
award  punishments.  We  mailc  laws  and  regulations  res- 
pecting personal  behavior,  and  personal  cleanliness,  which 
last  we  enforced  with  particular  care;  for  we  had  somo 
lazy,  lifeless,  dirty  fellows  among  us,  that  required  at- 
tending to  like  children.  'J'hey  were  like  hogs,  whofo 
delight  it  is  to  eat,  sleep  and  wallow  in  the  dirt,  and  never 
work.  We  had,  however,  but  very  few  of  this  low  cast  5 
and  they  were,  in  a  great  measure,  pressed  down  by  some 
chronical  disorder.  It  was  tha  duty  of  the  ])rosidet!t  end 
the  twelve  committee  men,  or  common  council,  to  dcfin", 


n 


m 


/.f 


Ik 


•I 


l! 

M,. 

i  m 


hi 


ei 


JOURNAL. 


precisely,  every  act  punishable  by  fine,  \v1ii|)i)iii<;,  or  con* 
tineinent  in  the  black  hole,  1  opposed,  with  uli  my  might, 
#  this  last  mode  of  punishment  as  unequal,  inhuman,  an4 
dii^^^raeeful  to  our  national  character.  I  contended  tliat 
-\ve,  who  had  suftered  so  much,  and  complained  so  loud  of 
^  the  black  hole  of  the  Regulus,  Malabar,  and  other  floating 
'''  dungeons,  should  reject,  fj'om  an  humane  principle,  this 
horrid  mode  of  torment.  I  nrged,  as  a  metlicai  man,  that 
the  punishment  of  a  confined  black  hole,  was  a  very  uiier 
qua!  mode  of  punishment;  for  that  some  men  of  ueak 
lungs  and  debilitated  habit,  might  die  under  the  effects  of 
that  which  another  man  could  bear  without  much  di8tres3. 
J  maintained  that  it  was  wicked,  a  »in  against  human  nar 
ture,  to  take  a  well  man,  put  him  in  a  place  that  should 
destroy  his  health,  and,  very  possibly,  shorten  his  days, 
hy  engrafting  on  him  some  incurable  disorder.  8ome,  on 
the  other  side,  urged,  that  as  we  were  in  the  power  of  the 
British,  we  should  not  be  aneivil  to  them ;  and  that  our 
rejection  of  the  punishment  of  the  black  hole  might  be 
construed  in(o  a  reflection  on  the  English  government ;  so 
>ve  suffered  it  to  remain  in  terrorem,  with  a  strong  recom- 
mendation  not  to  h^ve  recourse  to  it,  but  in  very  extraor- 
dinary eases.  This  dispute  plunged  me  deep  into  the  phi- 
losophy of  crimes  and  punishments;  and  1  am  convinced^ 
on  mature  reflection,  that  we,  in  America,  are  as  much  too 
miid  iq  our  civil  punishments,  as  the  British  are  too  scr 
vere.  By  what  I  have  heard,  1  have  inferred,  that  the 
Hollanders  have  drawn  a  just  line  between  both.  - 

"We  used  to  have  our  stated  as  well  as  occasional  courts. 
Beside  a  beneh  of  judges,  we  had  our  orators,  and  ex- 
pounders of  our  laws.  It  was  amusing  and  interesting  to 
see  a  sailor,  in  his  round  short  jacket,  addressing  the  com- 
mittee, or  bench  of  judges,  with  a  phiz  as  serious,  and 
ivith  lies  as  specious  as  any  of  our  common  lawyers  in  Mas- 
sachusetts. They  would  argue, turn  and  twist,  evade,  re- 
treat, back  ont,  renew  the  attack,  and  dispute  every  inch 
of  the  ground,  or  rather  the  deck,  with  an  address  that 
nstonislied  me.  The  surgeon  of  the  ship  said  to  me,  one 
day,  after  listening  to  some  of  our  native  salt  water  plead- 
ers, *'  these  countrymen  of  yours  are  the  most  extraordi- 
nary men  I  ever  met  with.  Wln^e  you  have  such  fellows 
as  th«»se,  your  country  will  never  lose  its  liberty."  1  re- 
|)livd,  that  this  turn  for  legislation  arose  from  our  bein^ 


..,'•  .■>*■ 


*-^i\ 


iOVtiUM, 


B3 


iiil  taught  to  read  and  write.  "  That,  alone,  did  nat  give 
thcni;"  said  he,  ^*  this  acuteness  of  understanding,  and 
promptness  of  speech.  It  arises,*'  said  he,  with  gre^C 
justne.ss,  "from  fearless  liberty.** 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  we  had  Frenchmen  in 
this  prison-ship.  Instead  of  occupying  themselves  wiiU 
forming  a  constitution,  and  making  a  code  of  laws,  and. 
defining  crimes,  and  adjusting  punishments,  and  holding 
courts,  and  pleading  for,  and  against  the  person  arraign- 
ed, these  Frenchmen  had  erected  billiard  tables,  and  roW' 
lettSf  or  wheels  of  fortune,  not  merely  for  their  own 
amusement,  but  to  allure  the  Americans  to  hazard  their 
money,  which  these  Frenchmen  seldom  failed  to  win. 

These  Frenchmen  exhibited  a  considerable  portion  of 
ingenuity,  industry  and  patience,  in  their  little  nianufac- 
torie«  of  bone,  of  straw,  and  of  hair.  They  would  work 
incessantly,  to  get  money,  by  selling  these  trifling 
iVu  os;  but  many  of  tliem  had  a  much  more  expeditious 
i;.'  'V-  of  acquiring  cash,  and  that  was  by  gaming  at  tho 
b'  .>.!-}  tables,  and  the  wheels  of  fortune.  Their  skill  and 
auUress  at  these  apparent  games  of  hazard  were  far  supe- 
rior to  the  Americans.  They  seemed  calculated  for 
gamesters  ;  their  vivacity,  their  readiness,  and  their  ever- 
lasting professions  of  friendship,  were  nicely  adapted  to 
inspire  confidence  in  the  unsuspecting  American  Jack  Tar, 
who  has  no  legerdemain  about  him.  Most  of  the  prisoners 
were  in  the  way  of  earning  a  little  money;  but  almost  all 
of  them  were  deprived  of  it  by  the  French  gamesters.  Our 
people  stood  no  chance  with  them,  but  were  commonly 
stripped  of  every  cent,  whenever  they  set  out  seriously  to 
play  with  them.  How  often  have  I  seen  a  Frenchman  ca- 
pering, and  singing,  and  grinning,  in  consequence  of  his 
stripping  one  of  our  sailors  of  all  his  money;  while  our 
solemn  Jack  Tar  was  either  scratching  his  head,  or  trying 
to  whistle,  or  else  walking  slowly  oft*,  with  both  hands 
stuck  in  his  pocket,  and  looking  like  Jolin  Bull,  after  con- 
cluding a  treaty  of  pence  with  Louis  Baboon. 

1  admire  the  French,  and  wish  their  nation  to  possesfi 
and  enjoy  peace,  liberty  ami  happiness  ;  but  I  cannot  say 
that  I  love  these  French  prisoners.  Beside  common  sail- 
ors, there  are  several  officers  of  the  rank  of  captains,  lieu- 
tenants, and,  I  believe,  midshipmen  ;  and  it  is  these  that 
are  the  most  adroit  gamesters.     We  have  all  tried  hard  to 


■I 


I-.'.    I  : 


•% 


m 


'■w 


,\  . 

» 


5rt 


.ioUKNXL. 


M  :  .. 


•» 


I't'spcct  tliein ;  Ixit  there  is  somctliing  in  their  eonduet  »a 
iMuch  like  swisHlliiiu?,  tliut  i  luirilly  kuow  what  to  say  of 
ihcm.     >Vht'n  they  knew  that  we  had  roceivtMl  money  for 
Jlio  work  we  hud  been  allowed  to  perform,  they  were  very 
aitentive)  and   complaisant,  and   flattering.     Sonic   had 
been,  or  pretended  to  have  been,  in  America.  They  would 
«M)me  round  and  say,  ah  !  Boston  fine  town,  very  pretty-ii- 
(.'ape  Cod  fine  t(»\vn,  very  fine.   Town  of  Rhode  Island  su- 
perb.    Bristol  ferry  very  pretty.     General  Washinc^tori 
tres  n;raHd  homme!  General  Madison  brave  honime !  With 
{he»e  ex|>i*essions  and  broken  blnglish,  they  would  accom- 
pany, w  ilh  their  monkey  tricks,  caperiii'^  and  ^rinniuij;, 
:uid  patting  us  on  the  slioulder,  with,  the  Americans  ai'e 
brave  men — fij^-ht  like  Frenchmen  ;  and  by  their  insinual- 
iii<;>  manners,  allure  our  men  once  more  to  their  wheels  of 
foitune  and  billiurd-tables,and  as  sure  as  they  did,  so  sure 
did  they  sirip  iheni  of  all  their  money.     1  must  either  say 
liuthing  of  these   Frenchmen,  oHicers  and  all,  or  else  I 
must  speak  as  1  found  them.     1  hope  they  were  not  n  just 
sumple  of  their  whole  nation  $  for  these  £i;entry  would  ex- 
ercise every  imposition,  and  even  insinuate  the  thing;  that 
is  not,  the  more  easily  to  plunder  us  of  our  hard  earned 
pittance  of  small  change.    Had  they  shown  any  generosi- 
ty like  the  British  tar,  I  should  have  passed   over  their 
conduct  in  silence  ;  but  after  they  had  stripped  our  men  of 
i'very  farthing,  they  would  say  to  them — •'  Monsieur,  you 
.'lave  wen  all  our  money,  now  lend  us  a  little  change  to 
i;;ct  us  sonic  coffee  and  sugar,  and  we  will   pay  you  wheft 
\»e  shall  earn  more."     '*  Ah,  Mon  Ami,"  says  Monsieur, 
s,hr»Ji;'2;ii!i;  np  his  shoulders,  "  1  am  sorry,  very  sorry,  iir- 
lieod  ;  it  is  le  fortune  du  guerre.     If  you  have   lost  yoirr 
mjucy,  \ou  must  win  it  back  again  ;  that  is  the  fashion  in 
iiiv  cuuiitrv — we  no  lend,  that  is  not  the  fashion."     I  have 
tibstrvt d  tliat  these  Frenchnten  are  fatalists.     Good  luck, 
or  ill  h:ek  is  all  fate  with  them.  So  of  their  national  mis- 
foi  tunes  ;  they  slirug  up  their   shoulders,  and  ascribe  ail 
to  the  inevitable  decrees  of  fate.     This  is  very  different 
Irom  the  Americans,  who  ascribe  every  thing  to  prudence 
or  imprudence,  strength  or  weakness.     Our  men  say,  that 
if  the  game  was  wrestling,  playing  at  ball,  or  foot-ball, 
xiv  liririg  at  a  mark,  or  rowing,  or  running  a  race,  they 
itlioiild  be  on  fair  ground  with  them.     Our  fellows  offered 
to  instituJ'o  l!.i*gamc  with  thcmj  there  should  be  a  slrt>n« 


'  » 


I 


H: 


JOURNAL. 


«Anva«)8  baji^,  with  two  pieces  of  cord  four  feet  long ;  tho 
contest  ilioiild  be,  for  one  man  to  put  the  other  in  the  bag, 
with  the  liberty  of  first  tying  hin  huads,  or  his  feet,  or  both 
if  he  choge.  Here  would  be  a  contest  of  8trena;th  and 
hardihood,  but  not  of  cunning  or  legerdemain.  6ut  the 
Frenchmen  all  united  in  saying,  <*  No,  it  was  not  tlie  fash- 
ion in  their  country  to  tie  gentlemen  up  in  sacks.'* 

There  were  here  some  f)anes  as  well  us  Dutchmen.  It  is 
curious  to  observe  their  difterent  looks  and  manners, 
which  I  can  hardly  believe  to  be  owing,  entirely,  to  the 
manner  of  bringing  up.  Here  we  sec  the  thick  skulled 
plodding  Dane,  making  a  wooden  dish ;  or  else  some  of 
the  most  ingenious  making  a  clumsy  ship :  while  others 
submitted  to  the  dirtiest  drudgery  of  the  hulk,  for  money; 
and  there  we  see  a  Dutchman,  picking  to  pieces  tarred 
ropes,  which,  when  reduced  to  its  original  form  of  hemp, 
they  cull  oakum ;  or  else  you  see  him  lazily  stowed  away 
in  some  corner,  with  his  pipe,  surrounded  with  smoke,  and 
*'  steeping  his  senses  in  forgctfnlncss  ;*'  while  here  and 
there,  and  every  where,  you  find  a  lively  singing  French- 
man, working  in  hair ;  or  carving  out  of  a  bone,  a  lady,  a 
monkey,  or  the  central  figure  of  tho  crucifixion !  Among 
the  specimens  of  American  ingenuity,  I  most  admired 
their  ships,  which  they  built  from  three  to  five  feet  long. 
Some  of  them  were  said,  by  the  navy-oilicers,  to  be  perfect 
as  regarded  proportion,  and  exact,  as  it  regarded  the  min^ 
iature  representation  of  a  merchantman,  or  sloop  of  war. 
By  the  specimens  of  ingenuity  of  these  people  of  different 
nations,  you  could  discover  their  respective  ruling  pas- 
sions. 

Had  not  the  French  proved  themselves  to  be  a  very 
brave  people,  I  should  have  doubted  it,  by  what  I  observ« 
ed  of  tnem  on  board  the  prison-ship.  They  would  scold, 
quarrel  and  fight,  by  slapping  each  other's  chops  with  tho 
flat  hand,  and  cry  like  so  many  girls.  I  have  often  thought 
that  one  of  our  yankees,  with  his  iron  fist,  could,  by  one 
blow,  send  monsieur  into  his  nonentity.  Perhaps  such  a 
man  as  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  could  mak?  any  nation  cour- 
ageous ;  but  there  is  some  difference  between  courage  and 
bravery.  I  have  been  amused,  amid  captivity,  on  observ- 
ing the  volatile  Frenchman  singing,  dancing,  fencing, 
Srinning  and  gambling,  while  the  American  tar  lifts  his 
ardy  front  and  weather  beaten  countenance^  dcspisin 
6» 


H 


V  , 


'^^ 


V: 


■il: 


r^ 


i 


is 


JOUi      KU 


them  all,  but  the  dupe  of  them  ;  just*  about  as  much  dU- 
pnsed  to  squander  his  money  amon^  girls  and  tiddlers,  aa 
the  English  sailor  ;  but  never  so  in  love  with  it,  as  to  study 
the  arts  and  Ics^erdemain  to  obtain  it.  I  have,  at  times, 
wondered  that  the  hard  fisted  yankee  did  not  revense  im- 
positions on  the  skulls  of  some  of  these  blue-skinned  sons 
of  the  old  continent.  Is  there  not  a  country,  where  there 
is  one  series  or  chain  of  impositions,  from  the  Pope  down- 
wards  }  There  is  uo  such  thin:^  in  the  U  lited  States. 
That  is  a  country  of  laws  ;  and  their  very  sailors  are  all 
full  of  rights  and  wrongs  ;  of  justice  and  injustice  ;  and  of 
definiug  crimes,  and  ascertaining  the  butts  and  bounds  of 
national  and  individual  rights. 

It  was  a  pleasant  circumstance,  that  I  could,  now^  and 
then  obtain  some  entertaining  books.  I  had  read  most  of 
Dean  Sivifi's  works,  but  had  never  met  with  his  celebrat- 
ed allegory  of  Jufm  Bully  until  I  found  it  on  board  this 
prison-ship.  I  read  this  little  work  with  more  delight 
than  I  can  express.  I  had  always  heard  the  English  na- 
tion, including  king,  lords,  commons,  country  squires,  and 
iiu-rehdnts,  called  "  John  Bull^^*  but  I  never  before  knew 
that  the  name  originated  from  this  piece  of  wit  of  Dean 
Swift's.  Now  1  learnt,  for  the  first  time,  that  the  English 
l;ing,  court  and  nation,  taken  collectively,  were  charactec- 
izcd  under  the  name  oiJohn  Bull  ;  and  that  of  France  un- 
<]er  the  uame  oi  Louis  Baboon  ;  and  that  of  the  Dutch  of 
>Xick  Frog  ;  and  that  of  Spain  under  Lord  Strul ;  that 
the  church  of  England  was  called  John^s  Mother  ^  (he  par- 
liament his  wife;  and  Scotland  his  poor  ill-treated,  raw* 
boned,  mangy  Sister  Peg;,  While  1  was  shaking  my  sides 
ut  the  comical  characteristieal  painting  of  the  w  itty  Dean 
of  St.  Patrick,  the  Frenchmen  would  come  around  me  to 
know  what  the  book  contained,  which  so  much  tickled  my 
fancy  $  they  thought  it  was  an  obscene  book,  and  wished 
some  one  to  translate  it  to  them  :  but  all  they  could  get  out 
of  me  was  the  word  "  John  Bull  and  Louis  Baboon  /" 

It  is  now  the  Soth  of  November^  a  month  celebrated  (o 
a  proverb  in  England  fur  its  gloominess.  We  have  had 
a  troubled  sky  and  fou  y  for  several  weeks  past.  The 
jtleasaut  prospect  of  surrounding  shores  has  been  ob- 

scured a  great  po'*  .jn  )f  this  month.  The  countenances 
of  our  companir  .s  partake  of  our  dismal  atmosphere.  It 
has  even  sob:*.'d  our  Frenchmen  j  Ihey  do  not  sing  aiid 


'^i^iiii:; 


JOURNAL. 


e^o 


caper  as  nsual;  nor  do  tkey  swint;  their  arms  about,  and 
talk  with  stronj5  emphasis  of  every  trifle.  The  tiiout^hts 
oi'iiome  obtrude  upon  us;  and  we  feci  as  the  poor  Jews 
felt  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  when  their  task-mast- 
ers and  prison-keepers  insisted  on  'their  singing  a  song. 
We  all  hun£;  up  our  fiddles,  as  the  Jews  did  their  harps, 
and  sat  about,  here  and  there,  like  barn-door  fowls,  wheu 
molting. 

Our  captivity  Oi.  he  »  ksofthe  river  "^"-f't^.Ty,  bor- 
dered with  willows,  brougUL  to  my  mind  the  |;  aintive  sona* 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  in  captivity  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  Euphrates,  which  psalm,  among  others,  I  used  to 
sing  with  my  mother  and  sisters,  on  Sunday  evenings, 
when  an  innocent  boy,  and  long  before  the  wild  notion  af 
rambling,  from  a  comfortable  and  plentiful  home,  came 
into  my  head.  It  is  the  i37th  Psalm,  Tate  and  Brady's^ 
version. 


r,*    '    :i 

1    IS! 


V. 


■■hnf  in 


<M 


When  we  our  weary  limbs  to  rest 

Sat  down  by  proud  Euphrates'  stream,. 

We  wept,  with  doleful  thoughts  opprest. 
And  Saltm  was  our  mournful  theme. 


•    ■*». 


Our  harps,  that,  when  with  joy  we  su«g> 
Were  wont  their  tuneful  parts  to  bear^ 
With  silent  strings,  neglected  hung, 
On  willow-tree&,  that  wither'd  ihcr6. 

Meanwhile  our  foes,  who  all  conspir'd 
To  triumph  in  our  slavish  wrongs, 

Music  and  mirth  of  us  requir'd, 

"  Come  sing  us  one  of  Zion's  songs." 

How  shall  we  tune  out  voice  to  sing  ? 

Or  touch  our  harps  with  skilful  hanels?' 
Shall  hymns  of  joy  to  Goo,  our  King, 
Be  sung  by  slaves,  in  foreign  lands  ? 

O  Sa  L  iM  !  Our  once  happy  seat  \ 
When  I  of  thee  forgetful  prove,    ' 
Let  then  my  trembling  hand  forget 

The  speaking  strings  with  art  to  move  1 


Mr 


si 


hi  \ 
1  I  ' 


tU. 


W  I,  to  mention  thee,  forbear, 
Eternal  silence  seize  my  tongue  t 

Or  if  I  sing  one  cheerful  air, 
Till  my  ddiv'rajicc  ij  my  soog. 


-?ri 


''^•a 


» , ' 


\         )'i. 


r^^ 


JOVRNAL. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


.11!! 


1.  .* 


I  ooME  now  to  a  delicate  subject :  and  shall  speak 
accordingly,  with  due  caution ;  1  mean  the  charaetei*  and 
conduct  of  Jdr.  tteauly,  the  Aiucrican  Agent  for  prisoners. 
He  resides  in  the  city  of  London,  thirty-two  miles  from 
this  place.  There  have  been  loud  and  constant  complaints 
made  of  his  conduct  towards  his  countrymen  suflferins  con- 
finement at  three  thousand  miles  distance  from  ail  they 
hold  most  dear  and  valuable,  and  he  but  half  a  day's  jour- 
ney from  us.  Mr.  Beasly  knew  that  there  were  some 
thousands  of  his  countrymen  imprisoned  in  a  foreign  land 
for  no  crime,  but  for  defending  and  fighting  under  the 
American  flag,  that  emblem  of  national  independence,  and 
sovereignity ;  if  he  reflected  at  all  he  must  have  known 
these  countrymen  of  his  were  in  general,  thinkiu;^  men ; 
men  who  had  homes,  and  *^  fire  places."  He  knew  they 
had,  some  of  them,  fathers  and  mothers,  wives  and  chil- 
dren, brothers  and  sisters  in  *^e  United  States,  who  lived 
in  houses  that  had  ^^jire  pi  s,'*  and  that  they  had,  in 
general  been  brought  up  in  mure  ease  and  plenty  than  the 
same  class  in  England ;  he  knew  they  were  a  people  of 
strong  affections  to  their  relatives,  and  strong  attachments 
to  their  country  ;  and  he  might  have  supposed  that  some 
of  them  had  as  good  an  education  as  himself;  he  must, 
or  ought  to  have  thought  constantly  that  they  were  suf- 
fering imprisonment,  deprivations  and  occasionally  sick- 
ness m  a  foreign  country,  where  he  is  specially  commis- 
sioned and  placed  to  attend  to  their  comfort,  relieve,  if 
prasticable  their  wants,  and  to  be  the  channel  of  commu- 
nication between  them  and  their  families.  The*-  British 
commander,  or  Commodore  of  all  the  prison  ships  in  this 
river  visited  them  ail  once  a  month^  andj  paid  good  atten- 
tion to  all  their  wants. 

When  we  first  arrived  here,  we  wrote  in  a  respectful 
style  to  Mr.  Beasly,  as  the  Agent  from  our  government  for 
the  prisoners  in  England.  We  glanced  at  our  sufferings 
at  Halifax ;  and  stated  our  extreme  sufferings  on  the  pas- 
sage to  England,  and  until  we  arrived  in  the  river  Med- 
way.  We  remarked  that  we  expected  that  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  intended  to  treat  her  citizens  in 
captivity  ii\  a  foreign  land  all  equally  alike.    We  repre- 


!-     »» 


♦'.* 


M 


JO  URN  At'. 


6( 


Stilted  to  him  that  we  were,  In  general  destitute  of  eloatli* 
)i)<^,  und  many  conveniences,  that  a  trifling  sum  of  money 
would  obtain ;  that  we  did  not  doubt  tiie  £;ood  will,  and 
honorable  intentions  of  our  government ;  and  that  he  doubt-^ 
less  knew  of  their  kind  intentions  towards  us  a\\.-—But  h» 
never  returned  a  word  of  answer.    We  found  that  all  those 
prisoners,  who  had  been  eonfined  here  at  Chatham  from 
the  commencement  of  the  war  bore  Mr.  Beasly  an  inveter- 
ate hatred.     They  accuse  him  of  an  unfeeling  neglect,  and 
disregard  to  their  pressing  wants.     They  say   he  never 
visited  them  but  once,  and  that  then  his  conduct  gave  more 
disgust  than  his  visit  gave  pleasure.     Where  there  is 
much  smoke  there  must  be  some  fire.     The  account  they 
gave  is  this — that  when  he  came  on  board,  he  seemed  fear- 
i'ul  that  they  would  come  too  near  him,  he  therefore  requesit- 
cd  that  additional  sentries  might  be  placed  on  the  gang- 
ways, to  keep  the  prisoners  from  coming  aft  on  the  quar- 
ter deck.    He  then  sent  f«r  one  of  their  number,  said  a  few 
words  to  him  relative  to  the  prisoners  ^  but  not  a  word  of 
information  in  answer  to  the  questions  repeatedly  put  to' 
liim ;  and  of  which  we  were  alt  very  anxious  to  hear.     He 
acter*  as  if  he  was  afraid  that  any  questions  should  be  put 
to  him;  so  that  without  waiting  to  hear  a  single  complaint, 
and  without  waiting  to  examine  into  any  thing  respecting 
their  situation,  their  health,  or  their  wants,  he  hastily  took 
his  departure,  amidst  the  hooting  and  hisses  of  his  eoun' 
trymen,  as  he  passed  over  the  side  of  the  ship. 

Written  representations  of  the  neglect  of  this  nominal 
agent  for  us  prisoners  were  made  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  which  we  sent  by  ditferent  conveyances  5 
but  whether  they  ever  reached  the  person  of  the  Secretary 
we  never  knew.  I;^everal  individuals  amoni^  the  prisoners 
wrote  to  Mr.  Beasly  for  information  on  subjects  in  which 
their  comfort  and  happiness  were  concerned,  but  received 
no  answer.  Once  indeed  a  letter  was  received  from  his 
clerk  in  an  imperious  style,  announcing  that  no  notice  would 
be  taken  of  any  letters  from  individuals,  (which  was  pro- 
bably correct)  but  those  only  that  were  written  bj  the 
committee  collectively.  The  Committee  accordingly  wrote, 
but  their  letter  was  treated  with  the  same  silent  neglect 
This  desertion  of  his  countrymen  in  their  utmost  need,  ex- 
cited an  universal  expression  ol'  disgust  if  not  resentment. 
Cut  off  from  their  own  country,  surrounded  only  by  eue- 


f-: 


'  11 

-  .  ■»■-•> 


m  ■ 


>|tel; 


* 


I  1, 


* 

# 


Oi 


40URNAL. 


mles,  swinilled  by  their  neighbour?,  winter  coming  on,  afii! 
no  clothing  proper  for  the  approaching  treason,  and  the 
American  agent  for  themselves  and  other  prisoners,  with- 
in three  or  four  hours  journey,  and  yet  abauiioiied  by  Iiim 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  our  declared  enemies,  it  is  no  won- 
der that  our  prisoners  detested^  at  length,  the  name  of 
Beasly.  We  made  every  possible  allowance  for  this  gen- 
tleman ;  we  said  to  each  other  he  may  have  no  funds  ;  ho 
may  have  the  will  but  not  tlio  power  to  help  us ;  his  com- 
mission, and  his  directions  may  not  extend  so  high  as  our 
expectations ;  still  we  eould  make  no  excuse  for  his 
not  visiting  ns,  and  enquiring,  and  seeing  for  himself  our 
real  situation.  He  might  have  answered  our  letters,  and 
tncouraged  us  not  to  despair  but  to  hope  for  relief }  he 
might  have  visited  us  as  often  as  did  the  English  Commo- 
dore, which  was  once  in  four  weeks ;  but  he  should  not 
have  insulted  our  feelings,  the  only  time  he  did  visit  us, 
and  humble  and  mortify  us  in  the  view  of  the  Frenchmen, 
who  saw,  and  remarked  that  our  agent  considered  us  no 
more  than  so  many  hogs.  The  Emperor  JNapoleon  has 
visited  some  of  his  hospitals  in  cog.  has  viewed  the  situa- 
tion of  the  siek  and  wounded,  examined  their  food  and 
eaten  of  their  bread,  and  once  threw  a  cup  of  wine  in  the 
face  of  a  steward,  beeause  he  thought  it  not  good  enough 
for  the  soldier ;  but-— some  of  our  agents  are  men  of  more 
«onsequence,  in  their  own  eyes,  than  Napoleon  ! 

During  the  v.'ar  it  was  stated  to  our  government  that 
six  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty -seven  seamen  had  been 
pressed  and  forcibly  detained  on  board  British  ships  of 
war.  Events  have  proved  the  correctness  of  this  state- 
ment ;  and  this  slavery  has  been  a  subject  of  merriment, 
and  a  theme  for  ridicule  among  the  federalists.  They  say 
it  makes  no  more  difference  to  a  sailor  what  ship  he  is  on 
board  than  it  does  to  a  hog  what  stye  he  is  in  Others  not 
quite  so  brutal,  have  said— -hush  !  it  may  be  so  ;  but  we 
must  bear  it ;  England  is  mistress  of  the  Ocean  ;  and  her 
existence  depends  on  this  practice  of  impressment ;  her 
naval  power  must  be  submitted  to — give  us  merchants 
commerce,  and  these  Jack  tars  will  take  care  of  them- 
selves ;  for  it  is  not  worth  while  to  loose  a  profitable  trade 
for  the  sake  of  a  few  ignorant  sailors,  who  never  had  any 
rights,  and  who  have  neither  liberty,  property  or  homes, 
but  what  we  merchants  give  to  them! 


'      JOURNAL. 


«9 


The  American  seamen  on  board  the  Crown  Prince,  were 
chieliy  men  who  had  been  impressml  into  llip  lirUlsih  A'lvy 
previoiia  to  the  war  ;  but  who,  on  hearing;  m\'  Uie  Deela- 
rntion  of  war  against  Great  Britain  by  the  pontic  of  the 
United  States,  gave  themselves  up  as  prSyoiit'is  of  war; 
but  instead  of  bcin:^  directly  exchanged,  the  English  Gov- 
ernment thought  it  proper  to  send   them  on  board  these 
prison  ships  to  he  retained  there  during  the  war,  evidently 
to  preventthem  from  entering  into  our  own  navy.   It  should 
bo  remembered  that  they  were  all   citizens  of  the  United 
States  sailing  in  merchant  ships  ;  and  yet  the  merchants, 
at  least  those  of  Boston,  and  the  other  New-Kngland  sea- 
ports, have  very  generally  mocked  the  complaints  of  im- 
pressed seamen,  and  derided  their  representations,  and 
have  even  I'enied  the  story  of  their  impressment.     Even 
tfie  Governor  of  Massacliusetts  (Strong)  has  affected  in  his 
public  speeches  to  the  Legislature  to  represent  this  crying 
outrage,  as  the  mere  groundless  clamor  of  a  party  oppos- 
ed to  his  election !    VVhether  gronndless  or  not,  I    will 
venture  to  assert  that   the  names  of  '.nany  of  the  leading 
federalists  in  Massachusetts,  and  a  few  others  will  never 
be  forgotten  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  prison  fthips  at  Chat- 
ham, at  Halifax,  and  in  the  West  Indies. 

We  are  now  at  peace,  and  the  tide  of  party  has  so  far 
slackened,  that  we  can  tell  the  truth  without  the  suspicion 
of  political,  or  party  designs.  I  shall  relate  only  what  I 
have  collected  from  the  men  themselves,  who  were  never 
in  the  way  of  reading  our  newspapers,  or  of  hearing  of  the 
speeches  of  the  friends  of  the  British  in  Congress,  or  in 
our  State  Legislatures. — I  think  1  ought  however,  here  to 
premise,  that  my  family  were  of  that  party  in  Massachu- 
setts called  Federal ;  that  is,  we  voted  for  Governor  Strong, 
and  federal  Senators  and  Representatives  ;  our  Clergyman 
was  also  federal  and  preached  and  prayed  federally,  and 
we  read  none  but  federal  newspapers,  and  associated  with 
none  but  federalists  :  of  course  we  believed  all  that  Gover- 
nor Strong  said,  and  approved  all  that  our  Senators  and 
Representatives  voted,  and  believed  all  that  was  printed 
in  the  Boston  federal  papers.  The  whole  family,  and  my.- 
self  with  them,  believed  ail  that  Colonel  Timothy  Picker- 
ing had  written  about  impressment  of  seamen,  and  about 
the  weakness  and  wickedness  of  the  President  and  admip- 
istration ;  we  believed  them  all  to  be  under  the  pay  and 


^M 


V. 


If 


•  ,  ■  i 


. .  1 


m 


mm 


1 1 


1$ 
m 


iii 


"M 


;f 


<ti 


JOUHNAL 


iiifliience  of  Bonaparte,  wJio  we  knew  was  tlic  (irtfi  Licii- 
tenant  of  Hatan.  We  bclieyeil  all  tlii'.t  was  said  about 
"  Ft'ee  tr(tfleamlsail:)vs^  ris;lits^^\\a.9  all  ^tulTand  nonscnso, 
brouglit  forward  by  the  Hepiibiicans,  whom  we  called  L)e- 
inoerals  and  Jacoliins  to  gull  the  people  out  of  their  liber- 
ty  and  property,  in  order  to  surrender  both  to  the  Tyrant 
of  France.  Wo  believed  entirely  that  the  war  was  unne- 
cessary and  wicked,  and  declared  with  no  other  design  but 
to  injure  England  and  gratify  France.  We  believed  also 
that  the  whole  of  the  administration,  and  every  man  of  the 
llepuiilican  parly,  from  Jeiferson  and  Madison,  down  to 
our  —  was  either  fool  or  knave.  If  we  did  not  believe  that 
every  republican  was  a  scoundrel,  we  were  sure  and  cer- 
tain that  every  scoundrel  was  a  republican.  In  some 
points  our  belief  was  as  strong  and  as  fixed  as  any  in  the 
papal  dominions  ;  for  example — we  maintained  stifBy  that 
Governor  Strong,  Lieut.  Uov.  Phillips,  II.  G.  Otis,  and 
John  Lowell  and  Francis  Blake,  Esqrs.  were,  for  talents, 
knowledge,  piety  and  virtue,  the  very  first  men  in  the 
United  States,  and  ought  to  be  at  the  head  of  the  nation  ; 
or — to  express  it  all  in  one  word,  as  my  sister  once  did, 
**  Federalism  is  the  politics  of  a  gevtleman,  and  of  a  lady, 
but  Republicanism  is  the  low  cant  of  the  vnlf^ar  i"^*  of  such 
men  as  your  Tom  Jetfersons,  Jim  Madisons,  and  John 
Adams',  and  Col.  Monroe's. 

With  these  expanded  and  enlightened  ideas  of  men  and 
things,  did  1,  Perigrinus  Jimericanus^  quit  my  father's 
house  of  tase  and  plenty,  to  make  a  short  trip  in  a  Priva- 
teer, more  for  a  frolic  than  for  any  thing  serious,  being 
very  little  concerned  whether  I  was  taken  or  not,  provided 
my  capt^ire  would  be  the  means  of  carrying  me  among  the 
peC|.ie  who  I  had  long  adored  for  their  superior  bravery, 
magnanimity,  religion,  knowledge,  and  justice  ;  which 
opinions  1  had  imbibed  from  their  own  writers,  in  verse 
and  prose  Beside  the  federal  newspapers,  I  had  dipped 
into  the  posthumous  works  of  Fisher  Ames,  enough  to  in- 
spire me  with  adoration  of  England,  abhorrence  of  France, 
and  a  contempt  for  my  own  country  ;  or  to  express  it  all 
in  fewer  words,  I  urns  a  Federalist  of  the  Boston  stamp,—' 
These  are  the  outlines  of  my  preconceived  opinions,  which 
I  carried  with  me  into  Melville  Prison,  at  Halifax.  I 
was  not  the  only  one  by  many,  who  entered  that  abode  of 
misery  with  similar  notions.  *  How  often  have  1  wished 


•f 


■•f^Ki^WT 


ir 


JOURNAL. 


69  . 


that  Governor  Stroii<;,  and  bis  principal  supporters,  were 
here  with  us,  learninc;  wisdom,  and  acquiring  just  notions 
of  men,  things  and  governments. 

But  to  return  from  the  Oovcrnor  and  Council,  and  other 
great  men  of  Massachusetts,  to  the  British'  prison  ship  at 
Chatham  — The  British  had  been  in  the  habit  of  pressing 
the  sailors  from  our  merchant  ships,  ever  since  the  year 
i755.  The  practice  was  always  ahhorrcd,  and  often  re- 
sisted, and  sometimes  even  unto  death.  We  naturally  in- 
ferred  that,  with  our  independence,  we  should  preserve 
the  persons  of  our  citizens  from  violence  and  deep  dis- 
grace $  for,  to  an  American,  a  whipping  is  a  'l^gradatiou 
worse  than  death.  Since  the  termination  of  the  war  wit!i 
England,  which  guaranteed  our  inde^pendence,  the  Britis'i 
never  pretended  to  impress  American  citizens  j  but  {  e- 
tended  to  the  right  of  entering  our  vessels,  and  taking  from 
them  the  natives  of  Britain  or  Ireland,  and  this  was  their 
general  rule  of  conduct  ; — they  would  forcibly  beard  oiir 
vessels,  and  the  boarding-officer,  who  was  commoiilj  % 
lieutenant,  completely  armed  with  sword,  dirk,  and  goad- 
ed pistols,  would  muster  the  crew,  and  examine  the  per- 
sons of  the  sailors,  as  ^  planter  examines  a  lot  of  negroes 
exposed  for  sale  ;  and  all  the  thin,  puny,  or  sickly  men, 
he  allowed  to  be  Americans—but  all  the  stout,  her^rty, 
red  cheeked,  iron  fisted,  crispy  haired  fellows,  were  de- 
clared to  be  British  ;  and* if  such  men  shoAved  their  cer- 
tificates of  citizenship  and  place  of  birth,  they  were  pro- 
nounced forgeries,  and  (he  unfortunate  men  were  dragged 
over  the  side  into  the  boat,  and  forced  on  board  his  float- 
ing prison.  Not  a  day  in  the  year,  bui  iho.re  occurerd 
f^uch  a  scene  as  this  ;  and  to  our  shame  Le  it  spoken,  we 
endured  this  outrage  on  man  through  the  administration 
of  Washington,  Adams  and  Jefferson,  ^'efore  we  declared 
war,  to  revenge  (lie  villany.  If  an  high  spirited  man, 
thus  kidnap'd,  refused  to  work,  he  was  first  deprived  of 
victuals;  and  if  starvation  did  not  induce  him  to  work,  he 
was  stripped,  and  tied  up,  and  whipped  like  a  thief  !•— and 
many  a  noble  spirited  fellow  suffered  this  accursed  pun- 
ishment. If  he  seized  the  first  opportimity,  as  he  ought, 
to  run  away  from  his  tyrants,  and  was  taken,  he  was  se- 
verely whipped  ;  and  for  a  second  attempt  the  punishment 
was  doubled,  and  for  a  tbird,  he  was  hanged,  or  shot. 

It  happened  on  our  declaration  of  war,  chiefly  on  account 
-      6 


'iiitll 


.■'        i» 


I 


*■ 


ii 


'-■It' 


1    ! 


yii 


m 


a  Ii 


i 


m 


60 


JOURNAL. 


of  (his  atrocious  (reatment  of  the  sailors,  that  thousaiuls  of 
our  countrymen  had  heen  impressed  into  theBritish  nav)'  and 
more  or  less  were  found  in  almost  every  ship ;  most  of  these 
informed  their  respective  captains,  that  being  American  cit- 
izens, they  could  not  remain  in  the  iiervice  of  a  nation,  to 
aid  them  in  killing  their  brethren,  and  in  pulling  down  the 
flag  of  their  native  country.     They  declared,  firmly,  that 
it  was  fighting  against  nature  for  a  man  to  fight  against 
his  native  land,  tlie  only  land  to  which  he  owed  a  natural 
duty.    Some  noble  British  commanders  admired  their  pat- 
riotic spirit,  and  permitted  them  to  quit  their  ships  and  go 
to  prison  :  while  other  captains,  of  an  opposite  and  igno- 
ble character,  refused  to  hear  their  declarations,  and  or- 
dered them   to   return  to  what   they  called   their  duty ; 
M'hich  they  accompanied  with  threats  of  severe  punish- 
ment if  they  disobeyed.     But   some,  whose  noble  spirits 
would  have  honored  any  man,  or  station,  adhered  to  their 
first  determination,  nottofght  against  their  own  brothers, 
or  aid  in  pulling  down  the  flag  of  their  nation.    These 
were  immediately  put  in  iroiis,  and  fed  on  scanty  allow- 
ance of  bread  and  water:  for  if  any  thing  can  bring  down 
the  high  spirit  of  an  hearty  young  man.  it  is  the  slow  tor- 
ture of  hunger  and  thirst ;  when  it  was  found  that  this  had 
uot  the  effect  of  debasing  the  American  spirit,  the  young 
sufferer  was  brought  upon  deck,  and  stripped  to  his  waist, 
and  sometimes  lower,  and — Oh!  my  pen  cannot  write  it 
for   indignation !    resentment,   and  a  righteous  revenge 
shakes  my  hand  with  rage,  while  I  attempt  to  record  the  act 
of  villainy.  Yes,  my  countrymen  and  my  countrywomen,  our 
noble  minded  young  men,  brought  up  in  more  ease  and 
plenty  than  half  the  officers  of  a  British  man  of  war,  are 
violently  stripped,  and  tied  fast  and  immoveable  by  a  rope, 
to  a  cannon,  or  to  the  iron  railing  of  what  is  called  the 
gang^way,  and  when  he  is  so  fixed  as  to  stretch   the  skin 
and  muscles  to  the  utmost,  he  is  whipped  by  a  long,  heavy 
and  hard  knotted  whip,  four  times  more  formidable  and 
heavy  than  the  whip  allowed  to   be  used   by  the  carters, 
truck,  or  carmen,  on  their  horses.     With  this  beavy  and 
knotted  scourge,  the  boatswain's  mate,  who  is  generally 
selected  for  his  strength,  after  stripping  off  his  jacket  that 
he  rnay  strike  the  harder,  lashes  this  young  man,  on  his 
4lelica(e  skin,  until  his  back  is  out  from  his  shoulders  to 
*  his  waist !  Few  men,  of  ordins'-y  feelings  of  bumaaity. 


1 


n 


C^iih 
robb 


iHg^ 


isaiuls  of 
navv  and 

of  these 
rieancit- 
a(iut),  to 
loun  the 
Illy,  that 

aciainvst 

natural 
•eir  pat- 
s  and  go 
1(1  ig^no- 

and  or- 

r  duty  ; 

pnnish- 
spirits 

to  their 
troth  firs, 
'J'hese 
y  ailuw- 
iff  down 
low  tor- 
Ihis  had 
e  yonng 
is  waist, 
write  it 
revenajo 
i  the  act 
nen,  our 
Lse  and 
ar,  are 

a  rope, 
led  the 
he  skin 
f,  heavy 
ble  and 
carters, 
ivy  and 
'nerally 
kef  tha't 
)  on  his 
ders  to 
nnnifyy 


JOURNAL. 


B7 


Ctmld  bear  to  see,  without  great  emotion,  even  a  thief,  or  a 
robber  so  severely  punished.  Hut  what  must  be  the  feel- 
iHg'i  of  an  American,  to  see  such  a  cruel  operation  upon  the 
body  of  his  countryman,  of  his  mess-mate  and  companion  ? 
We  will  venture  to  say,  that  if  a  dog,  or  an  horse,  were 
tied  fast  to  a  post,  in  any  street  of  any  town  in  America, 
and  lashed  with  such  an  heavy  knotted  whip,  swung  hy 
the  strong  arm  of  a  vigorous  man,  although  their  skins 
were  covered  and  defended  by  their  hair,  or  fur,  we  do  not 
believe  that  the  inhabitants  would  see  it  inflicted  on  the 
poor  beast,  without  carrying  the  whipper  before  a  magis- 
trate, to  answer  to  the  law  for  his  cruelty.  Yet  what  is 
the  whipping  of  a  beast,  devoid  of  reason,  and  covered 
with  fur,  to  this  severe  operation  upon  the  delicate  skin 
and  flesh  of  one  of  our  young  men  .'  And  all,  for  what  ?  For 
noblv  maintaining  and  upholding  the  first  and  great  prin- 
cipal of  uur  nature.  Yet  has  this  heroism  of  our  enslaved 
seamen  been  overlooked,  and  even  derided  by  the  federal 
merchant  and  the  federal  politician,  and  the  federal  mem- 
ber of  congress,  and  the  federal  clergyman  !  Some  of  our 
brave  fellows  have  been  brought  upon  deck  every  punish- 
ing day,  and  undergone  this  horrid  punishment  three  or 
four  times  over,  until  the  crews  of  the  men  of  war  were 
disposed  to  cry  out  shame,  upon  their  oivn  oiHcers.  Some 
of  our  poor  fellows  could  not  sustain  these  repeated  tor- 
tures, which  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  and  have  finally 
gone  to  work  as  soon  as  they  recovered  from  their  barba- 
rous usage.  Others,  of  firmer  frames  and  firmer  minds, 
have  wearied  out  their  persecutors,  whose  infernal  dispo- 
sitions they  have  defied,  and  triumphed  over;  such  have 
l>ecH  sent  out  of  the  ship  into  our  prison-ships;  and  here 
they  are  to  tell  their  own  story,  to  show  to  their  conntry- 
inen  the  everlasting  marks  of  their  tormcnters,  the  Britisli 
navy  officers.  With  what  indignation,  rage  and  horror, 
have  1  seen  our  brave  fellows  actuated,  while  one  of  these 
heroes  of  national  rights,  and  national  character,  has  been 
relating  his  sufferings,  and  showing  his  degrading  scars, 
made  on  his  body  by  the  accursed  whip  of  a  boatswain's 
mate,  by  order  of  an  infiimous  captain  of  the  British  navy! 
You  talk  of  peace,  friendship  and  cordiality  with  the  na- 
tion from  whom  most  of  ns  sprang.  It  is  well,  perhaps, 
that  llie  two  nations  should  be  at  peace  politically,  bHt 
can  you  ever  expect  cordiality  to  subsist  between  our  im- 


*  , 


I 


i^ 


V;    ', 


08 


JOURNAL 


i';Mli; 


pressed  and  cruelly  treated  sailor,and  a  British  navy  officer? 
Jt  is  next  to  impossible.  Our  ill  treated  sailor,  lacerated 
in  his  flesh,  wounded  in  his  honor,  and  debased  by  the 
slavish  hand  of  a  boatswain's  mate,  never  can  fors^et  the 
barbarians  ;  nor  ever  can,  nor  ever  ou^ht  to  fort^ive  them. 
The  God  of  nature  has  ordained  that  nations  should  be 
separated  by  a  difference  of  lanQ;ua|;e,  relis^ton,  customs, 
and  mariners, for  wise  purposes;  but  where  two  great  na- 
tions, like  the  English. and  American,  have  the  same  lan- 
^^ua(;e,  institutions  and  manners,  he  may  possibly  have  aU 
lowed  the  devil  to  inspire  one  with  a  portion  of  his  own 
infernal  spirit  of  cruelty,  in  order  to  effect  a  separation, 
and  keep  apart  two  people,  superficially  resembling  each 
other. 

It  may  be  for  good  and  wise  purposes,  in  the  order  of 
Providence,  that  there  should  be  a  partition  wall  bv/'ween 
us  and  Britain.  We  have  had  (o  deplore  \\u(i  three 
thousand  miles  of  ocean  is  nol  half  enoui'jh  ;  for  avarice, 
fashion  and  folly,  are  continually  drawing;  us  together; 
and  these  often  drown  the  still  small  voice  of  patriotism, 
whose  language  is,  "  Come  out  of  Aer,  O  my  people  P* 
There  is  nothing  that  tends  so  strongly  to  keep  us  asunder 
as  the  different  dispositions  of  the  two  people.  The 
Americans  are  a  kind,  humane,  tender-hearted  people,  as 
free  from  cruelty  as  any  nation  upon  earth  ;  and  possess- 
ing as  much  generosity  towards  an  enemy  tliey  have  van- 
quished, ami  who  is  at  their  mercy,  as  any  people  to  be 
found  on  the  records  of  the  human  kind.  Their  laws  ex- 
press it ;  the  records  of  their  courts  prove  it ;  the  history 
of  the  war  illustrates  it ;  and  1  hope  that  all  our  actions 
declare  it.  We  may  change,  and  become  as  hard  hearted 
and  cruel  as  the  English.  It  may  be  that  we  are  now  iu 
the  chivalr07t<^  age,  or  period  of  our  nation,  wbich  is  tho 
generous,  youthful  stage  of  a  nation's  life;  this  may  pass 
away,  and  we  may  sink  into  the  cold,  phlegmatic,  calcu- 
lating cruelty  of  the  present  Britons ;  and  become,  like 
them,  objects  of  hatred  to  our  own  <U'scendants.  What- 
ever we  may,  in  the  course  of  degeneration,  become,  wo 
assert  it,  as  an  incontrovertible  fact,  th»t  the  Britons 
are  now,  and  have  been  for  many  generations  past,  vast- 
ly our  inferiors  on  the  score  of  polished  humanity.  On 
this  subject  we  would  refer  the  reader  to  the  history  of 
England,  written  by  eminent  Englishmen  and  Scotchmen; 


JOURNAL. 


«f 


and  la  Shakespeare*^  historical  playq,  and  to  the  records 
ol'llicir  coiirls,  the  annals  of  Newgale,  and  of  the  Tower, 
and  to  tiieir  penal  code,  {generally;  but  above  all,  to  their 
horrid  military  pnnishmcnts,  in  their  army  and  in  their 
navy;  and  (hen  contrast  the  whole  with  the  history  of 
America,  of  her  courts,  and  of  her  army  and  navy  punish- 
ments. 

When  the  Algerines  captured  some  of  our  vessels,  and 
made  slaves  of  the  crew,  a  very  high  degree  of  sensibility 
Was  excited.  It  was  the  theme  of  every  newspaper  and 
oration,  and  the  subject  of  almost  every  conversation.  The 
honors  of  Algerine  slavery  was  considered  as  the  ne  plus 
ultra  of  human  misery  ;  but  it  has  so  happened,  that  we 
have  many  sailors  returned  again  to  their  country,  who 
have  been  enslaved  at  Algiers,  and  have  been  impressed 
and  detained  on  board  British  men  of  war,  and  afterwards 
tJirown  into  their  prison-sliips.  The  united  opinion  of 
these  people  is,  that  the  Algerine  slavery  is  much  more 
tolerable  than  the  British  slavery.  The  Algerine;*  make 
the  common  sailors  work  from  six  to  eight  hours  in  tliQ^ 
day,  but  they  give  them  good  food,  and  enough  of  it,  and 
lodge  them  in  airy  places ;  and  always  employ  the  o.Hfieera 
according  to  their  rank,  whereas  the  British  »eem  to  take 
a  delight  in  confounding  and  mixing  together,  the  oHicers 
with  their  men.  As  to  their  punishments  among  them- 
selves, they  will  cut  oft*  a  man^s  head,  and  strangle  him 
with  a  bow-string,  in  a  summary  manner:  but  a  Turk,  or 
Algerine,  would  sicken  at  the  sight  of  a  whipping  in  the 
navy,  and  in  the  army  of  the  chvislian  king  of  Kngiand. 
There  is  no  nation  upon^  this  globe  of  earth  that  treats  its 
soldiers  and  sailors  with  that  degree  of  barbarity  common 
to  their  camps,  garrisons  and  m«n  of  war ;  for  what  they 
Jack  in  the  number  of  lashes  an  board  a  ship,  they  make 
up  in  the  severity  of  infliction,  so  as  to  render  the  punish- 
ment nearly  equal  to  the  Russian  knout 

Ifanyane  is  curious  to  see  British,  military  flogging 
treated  (>cientiflcally,  I  would  refer  him  to  chapter  xii, 
Yol.  i2d,  of  Dr.  R.  Hamilton's  Duties  of  a  Ueginiental  Sur- 
geon, from  p^ige  2'Z,  to  8^  The  reading  of  it  is  enough 
to  spoil  an  hungry  man's  dinner.  We  there  read  of  the 
suppuration  and  stench  that  follows  after  soven  or  eight 
hundred  lashes;  and  that  some  men  have  complained  that 
its  oifeasiveness  was  almost  equal  to  the  >Yhipping.    W& 


■I  I , 


k     , 


."fr 


4'1 


'i.'  '■  ' 


I; 


if  i 


h'i 


r 

r 


I  *i 


iiiiiili 


70 


JOURNAL* 


there  read  of  the  surgeon  discharging^  a  pound  and  a  half 
of  matter  from  an  abscess,  formed  in  consequence  uf  a 
merciless  punishment.  The  reader  may  also  be  entertain- 
ed with  the  discussion,  whether  it  is  best  to  wash  the  cat^ 
clear  from  the  hlood,  (for  the  executioners  lay  on  twenty- 
five  strokes,  and  then  another  twenty-iive,  and  so  on,  tilt 
the  nine  hundred,  or  a  thousand,  ordered,  are  finished)  or 
\vhether  it  is  best  to  let  the  blood  dry  on  the  knots  of  the 
whip,  in  order  to  make  it  cut  the  sharper.  There,  too^ 
you  may  learn  the  advantage  of  having  the  naked  wretch 
tied  fast  and  firm,  so  that  he  may  not  wring  and  (wist 
about  to  avoid  the  torture,  which,  he  says,  if  not  attended 
to,  may  destroy  the  sight,  by  the  whip  cutting  his  eyes,  or 
]ns  cheeks  and  breasts  may  be  cut  for  want  of  this  precau- 
tion. He  says,  however,  that  in  those  regiments  who  pun- 
ish by  running  the  gauntlet,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  pre- 
vent the  man  from  being  cut  from  the  nape  of  the  neck  to 
his  hams.  You  will  there  find  a  description  of  a  neat  con- 
trivance, used  at  Gibraltar,  which  was  compounded  of  the 
"^Qck''  and  the  pillory.  The  soldiers  legs  were  held  firm 
iu  two  apertures  of  a  thick  plank,  while  his  hody  and  head 
were  bent  down  to  a  plank  placed  in  a  perpendicular  di- 
rection, to  receive  the  man's  head,  and  two  more  apertures 
to  confine  his  arms.  In  this  immoveable  posture,  human 
beings,  Englishmen,  Irishmen  and  Scotchmen,  have  had 
their  flesh  lacerated  for  more  than  half  an  hour !  But  the 
Doctor  informs  us  that  the  men  did  not  like  this  new  con- 
trivance, as  it  checked  their  vociferation  and  injured  their 
lungs  ;  ^o  it  was  discontinued,  and  they  returned  again  to 
the  halberts,  where  their  hands  were  tied  up  over  their 
heads.  Some  of  these  poor  wretches  have  been  known  to 
gnaw  the  flesh  of  their  own  arms,  in  the  agonies  of  torture. 
Ameri4;ans!  think  of  these  barbarities,  and  bless  tho 
memories  of  those  statesmen  and  warriors,  who  have  sep- 
arated you  as  a  nation  from  a  cruel  people,  who  have  nei- 
ther bowels  of  compassion,  or  any  tenderness  of  feeling, 
for  the  soldier  or  the  sailor.  They  value  them  and  care, 
for  them  on  the  same  principle  that  we  value  a  horse,  and 
no  more,  merely  as  an  animal  that  is  useful  to  them.  I 
have  for  some  time  believed  that  America  would  be  the 
grave  of  the  British  character.  Our  free  presses  dare 
speak  of  their  military  whippings,  without  fearing  the 
punishment  inflicted  oq  tho  Editor  of  their  Political  Reg« 
ister.  "• 


T 

war. 

is,  s( 

fine 

lishi 

ing 

Sinit 

was 

the 

the 

theii 

aske 

then 

him 


ties 


jouhnal. 


^•' 


ri 


♦'., 


m 


Thase  pressed  men  liberated  from  the  British  men  of 
war,  and  sent  on  board  this  ship,  the  Crown  Prince,  that 
is,  sent  from  one  prison  to  another,  are  large,  well  made, 
iine  looking;  fellows,  for*  such  they  usually  select  as  Eng- 
lishmen.  Some  of  them  were  nc  s  of  "olour.  The  follow- 
ins;  anecdote  does  honor  to  the  character  of  Sir  Sidney 
Smith,  as  well  as  to  that  of  our  brave  tars.  Sir  Sidney 
was  then  off  Toulon.  On  the  news  reaehint^  the  crew  that 
the  United  States  had  declared  war  against  England,  all 
the  Americans  on  board  had  determined  not  to  fight  against 
their  country,  or  aid  in  striking  its  flag ;  they  therefore 
asked  permission  to  speak  with  Sir  Sidney,  who  permitted 
them  to  come  altogether  on  the  quarter-deck ;  they  told 
Itim  they  were  all  Americans  bv  birth,  and  impressed 
against  their  will  into  the  British  service,  and  forcibly 
detained,  that  although  they  had  consented  to  do  the  du- 
ties of  Englishmen  on  board  his  ship,  they  could  not  iighfr 
against  their  own  country.  **  Nor  do  I  wish  you  should," 
was  the  answer  of  this  gallant  knight.  On  being  remind- 
ed by  one  of  his  officers,  that  they  were  nearly  all  petty 
otlicers,  he  observed  to  them,  that  they  had  been  promot- 
ed in  consequence  of  their  good  behayiour ;  and  that  if 
they  could,  as  he  hoped  they  would,  reconcile  themselves, 
to  the  service,  he  should  continue  to  promote  them,  and 
reward  their  good  behariour.  They  thanked  him ;  but. 
assured  him  that  it  was  against  their  principles,  as  Amer- 
icans, and  against  a  sense  of  duty  towards  their  beloved 
country,  to  fight  against  their  brethren,  or  to  aid  in  pulling 
down  the  emblem  of  their  nation's  sovereignty.  He  prom- 
ised to  report  the  business  to  his  superiors,  and  turning 
to  one  of  his  officers,  said,  I  wish  all  Englishmen  were  as 
strongly  attached  to  their  country,  as  these  Americans  are 
to  theirs. 

Another  instance  of  a  British  commander,  the  opposite 
of  this,  is  worth  relating,  I  give  it  as  the  sufferer  related 
it  to  us  all,  and  as  confirmed  by  other  testimony  beside  his 
own.  The  man  declared  himself  to  be  an  American,  and 
as  such,  asked  for  his  discharge.  The  captain  said  he 
lied,  that  he  was  no  American,  but  an  Englishman,  and^ 
that  he  only  made  this  declaration  to  get  his  liberty  ;  aud« 
he  ordered  him  to  be  severely  whipped ;  and  on  every  pun- 
ishing day,  he  was  asked  if  he  still  persisited  in  calling 
himself  an  AmericaD;  and  iu  refusing  to  do  duty  ?    Tho 


f     •  !  I  ■ 


k    , 


ft 

•  ■'<! 

-U 

.'•I 


■*■(:■ 


,i^'.;-  ' 


»i 


ift 


7:3 


JOURNAt. 


man  obstinately  persisted.  At  lengtli  the  captain  became 
enraged  to  a  liigh  degree  ;  he  ordered  the  man  to  be  strip- 
ped, and  tied  np  to  the  gratings,  and  after  threatening  iiiin 
M'ith  the  severest  flogging  that  was  in  his  power  to  inflict, 
he  asked  the  man  if  he  would  avoid  the  punishment,  and 
do  his  duty?  "  Yes,"  said  the  noble  sailor,  "  I  will  do 
my  duty,  and  that  is  to  blow  up  your  ship  the  very  first  op- 
portunity in  my  power"  This  was  said  with  a  stern 
countenance,  and  a  corresponding  voice.  The  capiain 
seemed  astonished,  and  first  looking  over  his  larbourd 
shoulder,  and  then  over  his  starboard  shoulder,  said  to  ttis 
oiUcers,  this  is  a  damn'd  queer  fellow  !  1  do  not  believe  he 
is  an  Englishman.  1  suppose  he  is  crazy  ;  so  you  may 
unlash  him,  boatswain  ;  and  he  was  soon  after  sent  out  of 
that  ship  into  this  prisun-ship.  This  man  will  carry  the 
marks  of  the  accursed  cat  to  his  grave  1 

O, ye  Tories!  ye  Federalists,  ye  every  thing  but  what 
you  should  be,  who  have  derided  the  sufierings  of  the  sail- 
or, and  mocked  at  his  misery — had  you  one  half  of  the  he- 
roic virtue  that  filled  and  sustained  the  brave  heart  of 
this  noble  sailor,  you  would  cease  to  eulogize  these  ty- 
rants of  the  ocean,  or  to  revile  your  own  government  for 
drawing  the  sword,  and  running  all  risks  to  redress  the . 
\vrongs  of  the  oppressed  sailor.  The  cruel  conduct  of  the 
Briti^  ought  to  be  trumpeted  throughout  the  terraqueous 
globe  ;  but  we  would  feign  cover  over,  if  possible,  the  de- 
pravity of  some  few  of  our  merchants  and  politicians,  who 
regard  a  sailor  in  the  same  light  as  a  truckman  does  his 
Lorse. 

Several  of  these  impressed  men  have  declared,  that  in 
looking  back  on  their  past  sufierings,  on  board  English 
men  of  war,  and  comparing  it  with  their  present  confine- 
ment at  Chatham,  they  feel  themselves  in  a  Paradise. 
The  ocean,  the  mirror  of  heaven,  is  as  much  the  element 
of  an  American  as  of  an  Englishman.  The  great  Crea- 
tor has  given  it  to  ui,  as  well  as  to  them  ;  and  we  will 
guard  its  honor  accordingly,  by  chasing  cruelly  from  its 
surface,  whether  it  shall  appear  in  the  habit  of  a  Britjn^ 
or  an  M^erine, 


»'>% 


JOURNAL. 


CHAPTER  V. 


ra 


Tt  is  now  the  last  day  of  the  year  1813  ;  and  we  live 
pretty  comfortably.  Prisoners  of  war,  eonfined  in  an  old 
man  of  war  hulk,  must  not  expect  to  sleep  on  beds  of  down, 
or  to  fare  sumptuously  every  day,  as  if  we  were  at  homo 
with  our  indulgent  mothers  and  sisters.  All  things  taken 
into  consideration,  I  believe  we  are  nearly  as  well  treated 
here,  in  the  river  Medway,  as  the  British  prisoners  are  in 
Salem  or  Boston  ;  not  quite  so  well  fed  with  fresh  meat, 
and  a  variety  of  vegetables,  because  this  country  does  not 
admit  of  it ;  but  we  do  suffer,  as  we  did  at  Halifax,  and 
above  all,  as  we  suffered  on  board  the  floating  dungeons^ 
the  transports,  and  store-ship  Malabar, 

Ail  the  Frenchmen  are  sent  out  of  the  ship,  exeeptins^* 
about  forty  officers,  and  these  are  all  gamblers,  r^ady  and 
willing  and  able  to  fleece  us  all,  had  we  ever  so  much  mo' 
ney.  I  wonder  that  the  prison-ship  police  has  not  put 
down  this  infamous  practice.  It  is  a  fomenter  of  almost 
all  the  evil  passions,  of  those  particularly  which  do  the 
least  honor  to  the  human  heart.  Our  domestic  faction 
have  uttered  a  deal  of  nonsense  about  a  French  influence 
in  Amerfca.  By  what  1  have  observed  here,  1  never  can 
believe  that  the  Frencli  will  ever  have  any  influence  t» 
speak  of,  in  the  United  States.  We  never  agreed  with 
them  but  in  one  point,  and  that  was  in  our  hatred  to  tho 
English  There  we  united  cordially  ;  there  we  could  fight 
at  (he  same  gun,  and  there  we  could  mingle  our  blood  to< 
gether.  The  English  may  thank  themselves  for  this. 
They,  with  their  friends  and  allies,  the  Jilgerines  and  the 
Savages  of  our  own  wilderness,  have  made  a  breach  in 
t!  ?it  great  christian  family,  whose  native  language  was 
the  English,  which  is  every  year  growing  wider  and  wider. 
Jnmmry^  1814. — We  take  two  or  three  London  newspa- 
pers, and  through  them  know  a  little  what  is  going  for- 
ward in  the  world.  We  find  by  them  that  Joanna  South- 
cote,  and  Mnlenaux,  the  black  bruiser,  engross  the  atten- 
tion of  the  most  respectable  portion  of  John  Bull's  family. 
Not  only  the  British  officers,  but  the  ladies  wear  the  or- 
ange colored  cockade,  in  honor  of  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
and  because  the  Dutch  have  taken  Holland.  The  yel- 
low, or  orange  color^  is  all  the  rage ;  it  has  been  even 


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JOURNAL. 


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extended  to  the  elotliiug  of  tlie  prisoners.  Our  sailors 
say  that  it  is  because  we  are  under  the  command  of  a  yel- 
low Mmiral^  or  at  least  a  yellow  Commodore^  \vhich  is 
aboiit  the  same  thini^. 

About  tbis  time  there  came  on  board  of  us  a  recruiting* 
sergeant,  to  try  to  enlist  some  of  our  men  in  the  service  of 
the  Prince  Regent.  H&  offered  us  sixteen  guineas  ;  but 
lie  met  with  no  success.  Some  of  the  men  ^*  bnred**  him 
pretty  well.  We  had  a  very  good  will  to  throw  the  slave 
overboard,  but  as  we  dare  not,  we  contented  ourselves  with 
telling  him  what  a  flogging  the  Yankees  would  give  him 
and  his  platoon,  when  they  got  over  to  America. 

About  five  hundred  prisoners  have  recently  arrived  in 
this  "  reach,*^  from  Halifax.  There  are  between  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  and  two  hundred  of  Colonel  Bocstler's  men, 
who  were  deceived,  decoyed,  and  captured  near  Beaver 
Dams,  on  the  twenty-third  of  June,  1813.  These  men  were 
principally  from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  It  is  diffi- 
cult to  describe  their  wretched  appearance ;  and  as  diifi- 
cult  to  narrate  their  suffering  on  the  passage,  without  get- 
ting into  a  rage^  inconsistent  with  the  character  of  an  im- 
partial journalisti  ,     .  i* 

To  the  everlasting  disgrace  of  the  British  government^ 
and  of  a  British  man  of  war,  be  it  known,  that  these  mis- 
erable victims  to  hardheartedness,  were  crowded  together 
in  the  black  hole  of  a  ship,  as  we  were,  just  like  sheep  in 
a  sheep-fold.  They  allowed  but  two  to  come  upon  deck 
at  a  time.  They  were  covered  with  nastiness,  and  over- 
run with  vermin,  for  these  poor  creatures  were  not  allowed 
to  wash  their  clothes  or  themselves.  O,  how  my  soul  did 
abhor  the  English,  when  I  saw  these  poor  soldiers  !  It  is 
no  wonder  that  people  who  only  see  and  judge  of  the 
Americans  by  the  prisoners,  that  they  conceive  us  to  be  a 
horde  of  savages.  They  see  us  while  prisoners,  in  the 
most  degraded  and  odious  light  that  we  ever  before  saw 
or  felt  ourselves  in.  1  can  easily  conceive  how  bad  and 
scanty  food,  dirt,  vermin,  and  a  slow  chronical  disease,  or 
low  spirit«i  may  change  the  temper  and  character  of  large 
bodies  of  men.  I  would  advise  all  my  countrymen,  should 
it  ever  be  their  hard  lot  to  be  again  in  British  bondage,  to 
exert  themselves  to  appear  as  clean  and  smart  in  their  per- 
sons as  \heir  •situation  will  possihly  admit,  i  believe  a 
soldier  feels  more  of  the  martial  ^iirit  when  in  uniform, 


»'  .1 


JOURNAL. 


rs 


(lian  in  a  loose  drab  coat.  The  same  feeling  may  extend 
to  a  ,jiidc;e  in  \\\»  robes,  and  to  a  parson  in  hi»  ^own.  They 
all  inuy  feel  braver,  more  consciencious,  and  pious,  for 
this  '^  autward  and  visible  sign/'  of  what  (he  inward 
ought  to  be. 

These  poor  soldiers  were,  of  all  men  among  us,  the  most 
miserable  ;  they  had  suffered  greatly  for  want  of  good  and 
sutllcient  food  ;  us  six  of  them  had  to  feed  on  that  quanti- 
ty which  the  British  allowed  to  four  of  their  own  men. 
13y  what  we  could  gather,  the  most  barbarous,  the  most 
unfeeling  neglect,  and  actual  ill  treatment,  was  expert 
enced  on  board  the  JVemesis.  This  ship  s^enis,  like  the 
Malabar,  to  be  damned  to  everlasting  reproach.  1  forgot 
-to  enquire  whether  her  Captain  and  her  Surgeon  were 
Scotchmen. 

We  turn  with  disgust  and  resentment  from  such  ships 
as  the  Regulus,  the  Malabar,  and  the  Neniesis,  and  men- 
tion with  pleasure  the  Poictiers,  of  74  guns      The  caplain 
and  ofticprs  of  this   ship   behaved  to  the  prisoners  she 
brought,  with  the  same  kindness  and  humanity,  as  I  pre- 
sume the  captain,  officers  and  crew  of  an  American  man 
of  war  would  towards  British  prisoners.     They  consider- 
ed our  men  as  living,  sensitive  beings,  feeling  the  incon- 
veniences of  hunger  and  thirst,  and  the   pleasure  of  the 
gratifications  of  these  instinctive  appetites;  they  seemed 
to  consider,  also,  that  we  were  rational  beings  ;  and  it  is 
possible  they  may  have  suspected  that  some  of  us  might 
have  had  our  rational  and  improvable  faculty  increased  by 
education  ;  they  might,  moreover,  have  thought  that  wo 
had,  like  them,  the  powers  of  reminescence,  and  the  same 
dispositions  to  revenge  ;  or  they  might  not  have  thought 
much  on  the  subject,  but  acted  from  their  own  generous 
and  humane  feelings.     1  wish  it  were  in   my  power  to  re- 
cord the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  Poictiers.     Of  this 
ship  we  can  remark,  that  she  had  long  been  on  the  Amer- 
ican station,  long  enough  to  know  the   American  charac- 
ter, and  to  respect  it.     Her  officers  had  a  noble  specimeu 
of  American  bravery  and  humanity,  when  the  American 
sloop  Wasp  took  the  British   sloop  Frolic,  and  both  were 
-soon  after  taken  by  tlie  Poictiers.     The  humane,  and  we 
dare  say,  brave  Capt.  Beresford,  has  the  homage  of  re- 
spect for  his  proper  line  of  conduct  towards  those  Ameri- 
,cang  whom  the  fortune  of  war  put  under  his  QO.mqsandl. 


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TOURNAL. 


We  drank  the  liealths,  in- the  best  beer  we  coiiM  c^et,  of 
fhe  Captain,  oflieers  and  crew,  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
"line  of  battle  ship,  Poicriers. 

It  may  be  tedious  to  our  readers,  especially  if  they  be 
British,  but  we  cannot  yet  leave  the  subject  of  the  inhu- 
man treatment  of  the  American  prisoners  of  war,  Mhile 
on  their  passap^e  from  Halifax  to  Chatham.  The  condi- 
tion of  the  soldiers  was  the  most  deplorable.  Some  of 
Uipse  men  were  born  in  the  interior,  and  bad  never  seen  Hie 
salt  ocean  ;  they  enlisted  in  Boestler^s  regiment,  and  were 
taken  by  the  British  and  Indians,  somewhere  between  ibrt 
George  and  York,  the  capital  of  Upper  Canada.  They 
were  pretty  much  stripped  of  their  clothings  soon  after 
thoy  were  taken,  and  their  march  to  Montreal  was  con- 
ducted with  very  little  regard  to  their  feelings;  but  when 
sick,  they  were  well  attended  to  by  the  medical  men  of  the 
enemy;  their  passage  from  Quebec  to  Halifax,  down  the 
river  8t.  Lawrence,  was  barbarous.  Tbey  suffered  for 
victuals,  cloths,  and  every  other  convenieney.  The  men 
say  that  they  had  more  instances  of  real  kindness  from  the 
Indians,  than  from  the  British.  But  on  their  passage 
across  the  atlantic,  their  situation  was  horrible,  as  may  be 
well  supposed. when  it  is  considered  that  these  soldiers  had 
never  been  at  sea,  and  of  course  could  not  shift,  and  shirk 
about,  as  the  sailors  call  it,  as  eonid  the  seamen;  they 
were  of  course,  sea  sick;  and  were  continually  grooping 
and  tumbling  about  in  the  dark  prison  of  a  ship's  hold. 
They  suffered  a  double  portion  of  misery  compared  with 
the  sailors,  to  whom  the  rolling  of  the  ship  in  a  gale  of 
vind,  and  the  steneh  of  bilge-water,  were  matters  of  no 
{j;rievanee  ;  but  were  serious  evils  to  these  landsmen,  who 
were  constantly  treading  upon,  or  running  against,  and 
tumbling  over  each  other.  Many  of  them  were  weary  of 
their  lives,  and  some  layed  down  dejected  in  despair,  hop- 
ing never  to  rise  again.  Disheartened,  and  of  course  sick, 
these  young  men  became  negligent  of  their  persons,  not 
caring  whether  they  ever  added  another  day  to  their 
wretched  existence,  so  that  when  they  came  on  board  the 
prison  ship,  they  were  loathsome  objects  of  disgust.  A 
mother  could  not  have  known  her  own  son ;  nor  a  sister 
her  brother,  disguised  and  half  consumed  as  they  were, 
with  a  variety  of  wretchedness,  They  were  half  naked, 
and  it  was  now   the  middle  of  winter,  and  within  thirty 


■-•*—• 


JOURNAL. 


!?r 


'  ,1 


miles  of  London,  in  the  nineteenth  centurf ,  an  era  famous 
for  bil>l«Hocieties,  for  missionary  and  humane  societies, and 
for  all  the  proud  boastings  of  christian  and  evanajel- 
ical  virtue;  under  the  reign  of  a  king  and  prince,  renowned 
for  their  liberality  and  magnanimity  towards  French  cath- 
olics, (bui  not  Irisk  ones,)  and  towards  Ferdinand  the  big- 
ot, his  holiness  the  Pope,  and  the  venerable  institution  of 
the  holy  Inquisition.  Alas  !  poor  old  John  Bull,  thou  art 
in  thy  dotage,  with  thy  thousand  ships  in  tl  <'  great  salt 
ocean,  and  tliy  half  a  dozen  victorious  ones  in  the  serpen- 
tine river,  alias  the  splendid  gutter  dug  out  in  Hyde  Park 
for  the  amusement  of  British  children  six  feet  high.  Can 
the  world  wonder  that  America,  in  her  present  age  of 
chivalry,  should  knock  over  these  doting  old  fellows,  and 
make  them  the  derision  of  the  universe. 

I  can  no  otherwise  account  for  this  base  treatment  of 
the  Americans,  than  by  supposing  that  the  British  gov- 
ernment had  concluded  in  the  summerand  autumn  of  1813, 
that  America  could  not  stand  the  tug  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, that  Madison  was  unpopular,  and  that  the  federal- 
ists, or  British  faction  in  America,  were  prevailing,  espe- 
cially in  New-England  ;  and  that,  being*suru  of  conquest, 
they  should  aommence  the  subjugation  of  the  United  States 
by  degrading  its  soldiery  and  seamen,  as  they  have  the 
brave  Irish.  They  may  have  been  led  into  this  error  by 
our  federal  newspapers,  .which  are  generally  vehicles  of 
misinformation.  The  faction  may  impede  aud  embarrass 
for  a  time,  but  they  never  can  long  confine  the  nervous 
arm  of  the  American  Hercules. 

Candor  influences  me  to  confesa,,  that  there  were  more 
attempts  than  one,  to  rise  and  take  these  men  of  war  trans- 
ports. I  find  that  several  experiments  were  made,  but, 
that  they  were  always  betrayeil,  by  some  Englishman,  or 
Irishman,  that  had  crept  into  American  citizenship.  £ 
hope  the  time  is  not  far  off,  when  we  shall  reject  from  our 
service  every  man  not  known  absolutely  to  have  been  born 
in  the  United  Slates.  Whenever  these  foreigners  get 
drunk,  they  betray  their  partiality  to  their  own  country, 
and  their  dislike  of  ours.  I  hope  our  navy  never  will  be 
disgraced  or  endangered  by  these  renegadoes.  Every  man 
is  more  or  less  a  villain,  who  fights  against  his  own  coun- 
l^try.  The  Irish  are  so  ill  treated  at  heme,  that  it  is  no 
wonder  they  quit  their  native  soil,  for  a  land  of  more  lib- 

7 


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.TOUUXAL. 


'« 

:|l 

'f 

" 

1 

ii: 

erly  and  plvnly  ;  and  tlicy  are  often  faKhrul  lo  the  coutt- 
iry  (liat  udnpla  them  :  but  never  trust  an  tlns^lishmaii,  and 
above  all  a  iSeutuIiman.  It  is  a  happy  circumstance  that 
America  uants  neither.  She  had  rather  have  one  En;i;lish 
nmuulactnrer  than  an  hundred  Euii^lish  sailors.  We  la- 
bor under  the  inconvenience  of  speaking  the  same  l.ti" 
guage  with  the  enemies  of  our  rising  greatness.  1  know  by 
my  own  personal  experience, that  English  books,  published 
since  our  revolutionary  war,  have  a  pernicious  tenden.^y 
in  anglifying  the  pure  American  character.  1  have  been 
amused  in  listening  to  the  wrangling  conversation  of  an 
English,  Irish  and  American  sailor,  when  all  three  were 
iialf  drunk  ;  and  this  wa«  very  often  the  case  during  this 
month  of  January,  as  many  of  our  mert  who  had  been  in 
l!)e  liritii^h  naval  service,  received  payment  from  the  gov- 
cnimenl ;  and  this  filled  our  abode  with  noise,  riot,  confu- 
sion, and  sometimes  fighting.  The  day  \va«  spent  in  gam- 
bling, and  the  night  in  drunkei  ness  ;  for  now  all  would 
attempt  to  forget  their  misery,  and  steep  their  senses  in 
forgetful  ness.  The  French  oilicers  among  us,  seldom  in- 
dulged in  drinking  to  excess.  Our  men  said  they  kept  so- 
ber in  order  to  strip  the  boozy  sailor  of  his  money,  by  gam- 
bling. 

AVhile  the  Frenchmen  keep  sober,  the  American  ard 
English  sailor  will  indulge  in  their  favorite  grog.  In 
this .  respect,  I  see  no  ditlerenee  between  English  and 
American.  Over  the  can  of  grog,  the  English  tar  forgets 
all  his  hardships  and  his  slavery — yes^  slavery  n  for  where 
is  there  a  greater  slavery  among  white  men,  than  that  of 
impressed  Englishmen  on  board  of  one  of  their  own  men 
of  war  ?  The  American,  over  his  grog,  neems  equally 
liappy,  and  equally  forgetful  of  his  harsh  treatment.  The 
[Englishman,  when  his  skin  is  full  of  grog,  glows  with 
idolatry  for  his  country,  and  his  favorite  lass;  and  so 
iloes  the  American  :  The  former  sings  the  victories  of 
Bembow,  Howe,  Jervase,  and  Nelson  ;  while  the  latter 
sing  the  same  songs,  only  substitutiug  the  names  of  Pre- 
ble. Hull,  Decatur,  and  Bainbridge,  Perry  and  Macdon- 
ough.  Our  men  parodied  all  the  English  national  songs. 
<«  livle  Britannia,  rule  the  waves"  was  "  Jinlc  Columbin^** 
&c.  "  Gojd  Have  great  George,  our  Kin^,^'  was  sung  by 
our  boys,  *'  God  save  great  Madison  ;"  for  every  thing 
like  federalism  was  banished  from  our  hearts  and  ei^rs  ; 


»'  .* 


JOURNAL. 


79 


vljatevcr  wc  were  before,  we  were  all  slaiiTicli  Madlsoni- 
ans  ill  a  foreign  land.  The  two  j^reat  and  nilinij;  pjissions 
among  the  Brititth  sailors  and  the  American  auilors,  seem- 
ed precisely  the  same,  viz.  love  of  their  cnuntr'/^  and  lova 
of  the  fair  sex.  These  two  siibjeets  alone  entered  into  all 
their  goni;s,  and  seemed  to  hu  the  only  dear  ol)ject8  of* their 
soiils,  when  half  drnnk.  On  these  two  strin2;s  hans;  all 
our  nation's  glory  ;  while,  to  my  snrpri/e,  1  found,  or 
thought  1  found,' that  the  love  of  money  was  that  string: 
which  vibrated  oftenest  in  a  Frenchman's  heart  ;  but  I 
may  be  mistakr>n  ;  all  the  nation  may  not  be  gani!>lers.-=* 
lieniemher,  politicians,  philosophers,  admirals,  and  gen- 
erals, that  Love  and  Patriotism  are  the  two,  and  1  almost 
said  the  only  two  passions  of  that  class  of  men,  who  are 
destined  to  carry  your  flag  in  triumph  around  the  terra- 
queous globe,  by  skilfully  controlling;  the  powers  of  the 
Minds,  and  of  vapor. 

One  word  more,  before  t  quit  this  national  trait.  The 
l^nglish  naval  muse^  which  1  presume  must  be  a  Mermaid, 
half  woman  and  half  fish,  has,  by  her  simple,  and  half  the 
time  nonsensical  songs,  done  more  for  the  British  flag  than 
all  her  gunnery,  or  naval  discipline  and  tactics.  This  in- 
spiration of  the  tenth  muse,  with  libations  of  grog,  havo 
actually  made  the  English  believe  they  were  invincible  on 
the  ocean,  and  what  is  still  more  extraordinary,  the  French 
and  Spaniards  were  made  to  believe  it  also.  This  belief 
constituted  a  magical  circle,  that  secured  their  ships  froni 
destruction,  until  two  American  youth,  Isaac  If  a?/,  from 
Connecticut,  and  Oliver  II.  Perry,  from  Rhode  Island, 
broke  this  spell  by  the  thunder  of  their  cannon,  and  anni- 
hilated the  delusion.  Is  not  this  business  of  national 
son^srs  a  subject  of  some  importance.^  X.ove  afad  Patriotism, 
daring  amplification,  with  here  and  there  a  dash  of  the 
supernatural,  are  all  that  is  requisite  in  forming  this  na- 
tional band  of  naval  music.  We  all  know  that  ''  Yankee 
Doodle.*^  isthe  favorite  national  tune  of  America,  although 
it  commenced  with  the  British  officers  and  Tories,  in  de- 
rision, in  the  year  1775.  When  that  animating  tune  is 
struck  up  in  our  Theatres,  it  electrifies  the  pit  and  tiio 
upper  galleries  When  our  soldiers  are  marching  to  that 
tune,  they  "  tread  the  air."  '*  With  that  tune,'*  said 
Gen.  M — .  the  same  gallant  officer  who  took  nine  pieces 
of  cannon  from  the  British,  planted  ou  an  eminence,  at  the 


r  '  "i 


I  t 
I 
I 


-■fr 


■'  ■^ 


80 


JOURNAL. 


■il," 


i 


:  i 


i!l!;!i  ;,; 


r  St 


%  1  illl'  iii 


::m!  ■•!• 


battle  of  Bri(1gexvater--^<<  with  that  tune,  these  fellows 
Mould  follow  me  into  hell, and  pull  the  Devil  by  the  nose." 
For  want  of  native  compositions,  we  had  sung  British 
songs  until  we  had  imbibed  their  spirit,  and  the  feelings 
and  sentiments  imbibed  in  our  youth,  are  apt  to  stick  to 
MS  through  life.  It  is  high  time  we  had  new  songs  put  in 
our  mouths. 

Unless  we  attend  to  the  effects  of  these  early  impre8» 
sions,  it  is  almost  incredible,  the  number  of  false  notions 
that  we  imbibe,  and  carry  to  our  graves.  A  considerable 
parly  in  the  United  States  have  sung  Nelson's  victories, 
until  those  victories  seemed  to  be  their  own.  Kven  on  the 
day  of  the  celebration  of  the  Peace,  the  following  Ode  was 
sung  in  the  hall  of  the  University  of  Cambridge.  It  was 
written  by  the  son  of  the  keeper  of  the  State  Prison,  in 
Massachusetts. 

ODE,  ^c. 

COLUMBIA  and  Britannia 
•Have  ccafed  fr- m  Warfare  wild  t 
No  more  in  br    '-'s  rage  they  meef. 
The  parent  aid  the  child. 
Each  gallant  nation  now  lament 
The  heroes  who  have  died. 

But  the  brave,  on  the  waves 

Shall  yet  in  friendship  ride. 

To  bear  Britannia's  ancient  natnf, 

And  swell  Columbia's  pride.  . 

The  flag-staff  of  Columbia  , 

Sliall  be  her  mountain  Pine; 

iler  Commerce  on  the  foaming  s^a 

Shall  be  her  golden  mine. 

Her  wealth  from  every  nation  borne, 

iSliall  swell  the  ocean  wide, 

And  the  brave,  en  the  wave,  &c.  8cc. 

To  Britain's  Faith  and  Prowess^ 
Shall  distant  nations  bow, 
The  Cross  upon  her  topmast  head, 
The  Lion  at  her  pxow. 

No  haughty  foe  shall  dare  insult,  * 

No  Injidel  deride ; 
For  the  brave,  on  the  wuve,  &c.  &c. 

For  now  the  kindred  nations 
Shall  wage  the  fight  no  more  ; 
No  more  in  dreadful  thunder  dash 
The  billows  to  the  shore  : 
S?ve  when  in  firm  alliance  bound 
iSomc  common  foe  defied  ; 

Then  the  brave,  on  the  wave,  &c.  &c. 


■'0': 


JOURNAL. 


81 


This  captivity  in  a  foreic^n  land,  has  been  to  me  a  season 
of  thoi]|^htfulness.  Sometimes  1  thoii;»'ht  1  was  like  a  des- 
pised Jew.  among  the  sons  of  the  modern  Babylon,  which 
1  might  have  sunk  under  but  for  the  first  principles  of  a 
serious  education  ;  foi  1  was  born  and  educated  in  the 
state  of  Vlassachnsetts,  near  an  hundred  miles  from  Bos- 
ton.  The  subject  of  education  has  greatly  occupied  my 
mind,  and  I  rejoiced  that  I  was  born  in  that  part  of  the 
United  States,  where  it  is  most  attended  to.  It  is  an  in- 
jury to  our  national  character,  that  most  of  the  books  we 
read  in  early  life,  were  written  by  Englishmen  ;  as  with 
their  knowledge  we  imbibe  their  narrow  prejudices.  The 
present  war  has,  in  a  degree,  corrected  this  evil,  but  time 
aione  can  effect  all  we  wi>ih. 

A  dispute  arose  between  us  and  our  commander,  rela- 
tive to  the  article  of  bread,  which  served  to  show  Eriglish- 
men  how  tenacious  we,  Americans,  are  on  what  we  consid- 
er to  be  our  rights. 

Whenever  the  contractor  omitted  to  send  us  off  soft 
bread,  provided  the  weather  did  not  forbid,  said  contrac- 
tor forfeited  half  a  pound  of  bread  to  each  man.  The  pris- 
oners were  not  acquainted  with  this  rule,  until  they  were 
informed  of  it  by  the  worthy  captain  Uutchinsoir;  and 
tliey  determined  to  enforce  the  regulation  on  the  next  act 
of  delinquency  of  the  contractor.  This  opportunity  soon 
occurred.  The  contractor  omitted  to  send  us  off  soft 
bread  in  fair  vveather;  our  commander,  Mr.  O.  thereupon 
ordered  us  to  be  served  with  hard  ship  bread.  This  wa 
declined  accepting,  and  contended  that  the  contractor  was 
bound  to  send  us  off  tlie  soft  bread,  with  an  additional  half 
pound,  which  he  forfeited  to  us  f^r  his  breach  of  punctu- 
ality. Now  the  contractor  had  again  and  again  incurred 
this  forfeiture,  which  went  into  Mr.  O's  pocket,  instead  of 
our  stomachs,  and  this  mal -practice  we  were  resolved  to 
correct.  Our  commander  then  swore  fhom  the  teeth  out- 
wards, that  if  we  refused  his  hard  bread,  we  should  have 
none ;  and  we  swo/e  from  the  teeth,  inwardly,  that  we 
would  adhere  to  our  first  dcch'.ration,  and  maintain  our 


rights. 


Finding  us  obstinate,  he  ordered  us  all  to  be  driv- 


en into  the  pound  by  the  marines,  and  the  ladder  drawn 
up.  Some  of  the  prisoners,  rather  imprudently,  cast  some 
reflections  on  Mr.  O.  and  his  family  ;  in  consequence  of 
\Tiiicli;  he  ordered  us  all  to  be  dFiven  below  aud  the  hatch- 

7* 


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i 

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i, 


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i   ^ 


JOURNAL, 


C8  closed  upon  us ;  and  he  represented  to  the  commodore 
that  the  prisoners  were  in  a  state  of  mutiny.  He  was  su 
alarmed  that  he  sent  the  female  part  of  his  family  on  shore 
for  safety,  and  requested  a  reinforcement  of  marines.  At 
the  same  time  we  made  a  representation  to  the  com  mo  • 
dore,  and  stated  our  {grievances,  in  our  own  way,  and  we 
demanded  the  extra  half  pound  of  soft  bread,  forfeited  by 
the  contractor.  In  all  this  business  we  were  as  fierce  antt 
as  stubborn,  and  talked  as  big;  as  a  combination  of  eoll&i^i- 
ans,  to  redress  t)ad  commons.  We  remained  in  this  situ* 
ation  two  days ;  one  from  each  mess  going  on  deck  for  a 
supply  of  water,  was  all  the  intercourse  we  had  with  our 
superiors.  Uuring  all  this  time,  we  found  we  had  got  hold 
of  the  heaviest  end  of  the  timber.  We  found  it  very  hard 
contending  against  increasing  hunger,  and  should  have 
been  very  glad  of  a  few  hard  biscuit.  Some  began  to  grow 
slack  in  their  resistance  ;  and  even  the  most  obstinate  al- 
lowed iheir  ire  to  cool  a  little.  To  lay  such  an  embargo 
on  our  own  bowels  was,  be  sure,  a  pretty  tough  piece  of 
self-denial ;  for  we  found,  in  all  our  sufferings,  that  bread 
^vas,  literally,  the  staff  of  life.  We  were  about  taking  ^e 
general  opinion  by  a  vote,  whether  it  was  best  to  eat  hard 
biscuit,  or  starve  ?  Just  as  we  were  about  taking  this  im- 
portant vote,  in  whieh,  I  suspect,  we  should  have  been 
unanimous,  the  commodore  and  capt.  Hutchinson  came  ou 
hoard  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  the  dispute ;  and  this 
lucky  and  well  timed  visit,  saved  our  credit,  and  estab- 
lished the  yankee  character  for  inflexibility,  beyond  all 
doubt  or  controversy.  These  two  worthy  gentlemen  soon 
discovered  that  Mr.  O.  had  made  representations  not  alto- 
gether correct.  They  therefore  ordered  the  hatches  to  be 
taken  off,  and  proper  bread  to  be  served  out,  and  so  the 
dispute  ended. 

What  added  to  our  present  satisfaction  was,  that  Mr. 
my  Lord  Beasly  was  to  allow  us  two  pence  half  penny 
sterling  per  day,  for  coffee,  tobacco,  &c.  We  now,  to  uso 
the  sailor's  own  expressive  phrase,  looked  up  one  or  two 
points  nearer  the  wind  than  ever. 

This  Mr.  O.  had  been  in  the  royal  navy  from  his  infan- 
cy, and  now,  at  the  age  of  40,  ranks  no  higher  than  a 
lieutenant.  He  once  commanded  a  sloop,  and  had  the  char- 
acter of  severity.  He  had  an  amiable  wife  and  many 
children,  who  lived  in  the  prison  ship.    Lieut.  0,  was  not 


JOL'iiifirAI.. 


88 


tJic  wisest,  man  in  all  £ns;!and.  He  exercised  his  cunning 
in  makinn^  money  out  of  his  station,  but  he  was  under  the 
immediate  eontroul  of  two  honorable  gentlemen,  other- 
wise we  should  have  felt  more  instances  of  his  reven^ 
than  he  dared  at  all  times  show. 


"  ,1- 


...  I.- 

■  * '   -  I  'J 


CHAPTER  Vr. 


It  is  now  the  last  day  of  February,  1814.  The  severity 
of  an  English  winter,  which  is  generally  milder  than  the 
winters  of  N^iw  England,  is  past ;  and  we  are  as  comfort- 
able as  can  be  expected  on  board  a  prison  ship  ;  we  have 
a  few  cents  a  day  to  buy  coffee,  sugar  or  tobacco ;  add  to 
these,  we  have  the  luxury  of  newspapers,  which  is  a  liigh 
gratification  to  the  well  known  curiosity  of  a  genuine  yan- 
kee,  by  which  cant  terra  we  always  mean  a  New  England 
man.  We  have  been  laughed  at,  by  the  British  travel- 
lers, fur  our  insatiable  curiosity  ;  but  such  should  remem- 
ber, that  tiieir  great  moralist,  Johnson,  tells  us  that  curi- 
osity is  the  thirst  of  the  soul,  and  is  a  never-failing  mark 
of  a  vigorous  intellect.  The  Hottentot  has  no  curiosity— 
the  woolly  African  has  no  curiosity — the  vacant  minded 
Chinese  has  no  curiosity — but  the  briglUest  si  -s  of  Old 
England  and  New»  are  remarkable  for  it;  ingo  riuoh  that 
they  are  often  the  dupes  of  it.  How  many  tlM  usand  guin- 
eas a  year  are  acquired  by  artful  foreignfc..*,  in  feeding 
this  appetite  of  our  relation,  the  renowne  i  John  Bull,  nd 
yet  he  is  never  satisfied  ;  his  mouth  is  oper>  still,  and  so 
wide,  very  lately,  that  Bonaparte  had  like  to  have  betn 
swallowed  up  by  it,  suite  and  all ! 

We  should  have  taken,  perhaps,  more  satisfaction  in  the 
perusal  of  these  newspapers,  had  they  not  been  so  excess- 
ively expensive.  We  took  the  Statesman^  the  Star,  ind 
Bellas  Weekly  Messenger  ;  and  some  part  of  the  time,  ll»o 
Whig,  The  expense  of  the  Statesman  was  defrayed  by 
the  sale  of  green  fish  to  the  contractor.  The  Star  was 
taken  by  the  Frenchmen ;  the  Whig  and  BelPs  Weekly 
Messenger,  by  individuals.  We  paid  twenty-eight  shill- 
ings sterling  per  month;  for  the  StAtesman;  which  is  twieo 


i    ,< 


.     'I 
'    At 


.<1((t 


i'*iS'' 


'^ii 


^  '!'iip4 


84< 


JOUflNAL. 


tlie  price  of  a  newspaper  in  Boston,  for  a  whole  year.  Be- 
sides, it  cost  us  sixteen  siiiiUnj^s  per  month  to  g;(«t  these  pa- 
pers conveyed  on  board.  The  reader  will  probubly  say,  in 
the  language  of  Dr.  Franklin's  aihgor^,  that  considerinc; 
our  destitute  condition,  "  we  paid  dear  for  our  whistle." 
These  new^^papers  w  ere  smuggled,  or  pretended  to  be  smug- 

f;led  :  our  commander's  pocket  was  not  the  lighter  for  New 
England  "  quidnuncism.*^  But  every  day  afforded  instances 
of  meanness  ;  scraping  misery  to  the  bone,  for  a  few  pence. 
The  United  States  is  the  region  of  all  regions  of  the 
earth  for  newspapers-  There  are  more  newsjjapers  print- 
ed  in  the  United  States^  than  in  all  the  rest  of  the  world  be- 
sides. We  do  not  mean  a  greater  number  of  copies  of  the 
same  title  but  a  greater  number  of  different  titles  ;  inso- 
much, that  invention  is  nearly  exhausted  to  afford  them 
new  names.  In  England,  newspapers  pay  a  very  high 
tax  ;  in  America,  they  are  perfectly  free,  and  their  trans- 
port by  the  mails  is  nearly  so  ;  and  this  is  because  our  £;ov- 
ernment,  that  is  to  say,  the  people,  consider  newspapers 
one  of  the  necessaries  of  a  yankee's  life.  In  the  dehniiioii 
of  a  New  England  man,  you  should  always  insert  that  he 
is  "  a  go  to  meeting  animal,  and  a  newspaper  reading  ani- 
mal .'"  The  sums  which  we  poor  prisoners  paid  for  one 
English  newspaper  a  year,  would  have  paid  the  board  of 
a  man  in  the  interior  of  our  own  plentiful  country. 

I  thought  that,  at  this  time,  we  were  as  happy,  or  as 
free  from  misery,  as  at  any  time  since  our  captivity.  The 
pleasant  season  was  advancing,  the  days  ri;rovving  longer, 
and  the  nights  shorter,  and  onr  condition  seemed  improv- 
ing, when  a  dreadful  calamity  broke  out  upon  us  ;  1  mean 
the  Small  pox.  There  are  no  people  on  the  lace  of  the 
earth,  who  have  such  a  dread  of  this  distemper  as  the  peo- 
ple of  New  England.  Their  laws  and  their  municipal  reg- 
ulations provG  this.  No  person  can  remain  in  his  own 
house  with  this  disorder ;  but  eertain  municipal  officers 
take  charge  of  him,  and  convey  him  to  the  small  pox  hos- 
pital, provided  by  the  laws  for  the  reception  of  such  pa- 
tients. If  the  disorder  has  progressed  so  far  an  to  render 
it,  in  the  opinion  of  physicians,  dangerous  to  life  to  remove 
him,  then  the  street,  where  he  lives,  is  fenced  up,  and  a 
guard  placed  so  that  no  one  can  pass,  and  a  red  flag  hoist- 
ed on  the  house.  These  formidable  precautions  may  have 
ftdded  to  the  drcvicl  of  this  loatheomc  discasci 


I  -A  V 


"  t\ 


JOURNAL. 


80 


When  this  alarmini;  distemper  first  appeared  in  the 
ship,  the  surgeon  had  all  the  prisoners  mustered,  to  in- 
quire of  them  who  had  had  the  small  pox,  and  who  the 
kine  pock  ;  or,  as  they  call  it  in  Ens^land,  the  cow  pock. 
He  vaccinated  a  number.  But  there  were  several  instances 
of  persons  who  said  they  were  inoculated  with  the  kine 
pock  in  America,  who  took  the  small  pox  the  natural 
wa\  at  this  time.  I  do  not  consider  this  as  in  any  dei^ree 
diminishing  the  value  of  this  important  discovery  and 
practice.  Very  few  practitioners  understand  this  business, 
and  a  great  number  of  people  in  the  United  States  have 
inoculated  themselves,  without  knowing  at  what  period  to 
<ake  the  matter,  and  without  knowing  the  true  pustule 
from  the  "purious.  Many  of  our  prisoners  absolutely  re-< 
fused  to  be  vaccinated,  although  they  believed  in  its  etlica- 
cy  of  guarding  them  from  small  pox.  I  was  greatly  sur- 
prized at  this,  until  I  found  that  they  felt  no  disposition  t(r 
preserve  their  lives  any  longer.  It  seemed  that  their  mis- 
ery had  so  far  lessened  their  attachment  to  life,  that  they 
were  indifferent  as  to  any  method  of  preserving  it.  1  was 
surprized  to  find  this  in  some  who  1  had  considered  as 
among  the  most  cheerful  I  was  shocked  to  find  among 
these  a  weight  of  woe  1  little  expected.  Several  of  them 
told  me  that  life  was  a  burthen ;  that  pride  of  character 
kept  them  from  whinins;,  and  forced  a  ^rnile  on  their  coun- 
tenance, while  their  hiiin^  penned  up  like  so  many  dirty 
hogs,  hau  chilled  their  souls,  and  sunk  ihem,  at  times,  in- 
to despondenfy.  Some  said,  that  noihing  but  the  hope  of 
revenge  kepi,  them  alive. 

There  are  two  extremes  of  the  mind  producinp*  a  disre- 
gard for  life.  The  one  is,  the  fever  or  delirium  .f  battle, 
augmented  and  kept  up  by  the  cannon's  roar,  .be  sight 
of  blood,  and  military  music  ;  here  a  miin,  being  all  soul, 
thinks  nothing  of  his  body.  The  other  case  is,  wiiere  his 
body  is  debilitated,  his  :  ^irit  half  extinguished,  and  his 
soul  desponding,  and  his  body  paralized.  Here  existence 
is  a  burden,  and  the  attaehment  to  life  next  to  nothing  It 
is  here  that  death  appears  to  open  the  gate  of  the  prison. 
I  found,  to  my  surprixe,  that  several  of  our  countrymen 
were  in  that  desponding  state. 

Some  refused  tojie  vaccinatt'd,  from  a  persuasion  that 
the  kine  pock  was  no  security  against  the  small  pox. 
When  I  endeavored  to  couvini'«  several  of  then:  of  their 


\  m 


m 


•ft 


JOURNAL 


mm 


'M^i 


n 


error,  one  asked  me  if  a  weak  man  couTd  drive  away  a 
strung  one  ;  or  a  small  evil  drive  away  a  jE^reat  one  r  A: 
man  need  not  despair  in  making  a  certain  class  uf  people 
believe  any  thino;  but  truth. 

It  is  snrprizinj^  that  when  oui*  eonntiyman,  Dr.  Water- 
hot. sc,  tirst  introduced  this  new  inoculation  into  America) 
in  the  year  1800,  what  an  opposition  the  practice  met 
with  ;  and  nothing  but  the  most  persevering  and  unweari- 
ed exertions,  and  public  experimenis,  could  overcome  the 
reluctance,  in  numbers,  to  receive  this  great  blessing.  The 
snnie  perversity  of  judgment  was  observable  among  indi- 
viduuls  in  this  prison  ship* 

As  the  spriiig  advanced,  the  men  contrary  to  my  expec- 
tation, became  more  desponding,  and  the  Typhus  fever,  or 
rather  the  jail  fever,  appeared  ainong  them.  From  four 
to  six  are  taken  down  with  it  every  day.  We  have  about 
nine  hundred  men  on  hoard  this  ship  ;  eis^ht  hundred  of  us 
wretched  prisoners,  and  on-  hundred  Engli^hmf-n.  We 
are  more  crowded  than  is  consistent  with  health  or  com- 
fort. Our  hammocks  are  slung  one  above  another.  It  is 
warm  and  offensive  in  the  middle  of  our  habitation  ;  and 
those  who  have  hammocks  near  the  ports,  are  unwilling  to 
have  them  open  in  the  night.  All  thi«  impedes  the  need- 
ful circulation  of  fresh  air.  It  is  a  little  singular,  that  it 
is  the  robust  and  hearty  that  are  seized  with  this  fever, 
hefore  those  who  are  weak  in  body,  and,  apparently,  des- 
ponding in  mind. 

As  the  appropriate  hospital  ship  is  now  crowded  with 
sick,  we  are  obliged  to  retain  a  number  in  the  Crown 
Prince  The  sick  bay  of  this  ship  is  now  arranged  like  to 
an  hospital  ship ;  and  the  hospital  allowance  served  out ; 
and  the  chief  surgeon  visits  us  every  week  Our  com- 
mittee, composed  of  the  iddest  and  most  respectable  men 
amongst  us,  do  ev^-ry  thing  in  their  power  to  keep  the  ship 
and  the  prisoner^^  clean.  Men  are  appointed  to  inspect 
the  prisoners'  clothes  and  bedding  ;  and  even  to  punish 
those  who  refused  or  were  too  indolent  to  wash  themselves 
and  their  clothing ;  lor  there  were  some  who  were  more 
like  hogs  than  men  ;  such  is  the  eftect  of  situations  vmd 
cireumstanccs.  Our  most  influential  men  set  the  example 
of  cleanliness  ;  and  endeavoured  to  instill  into  (he  minds 
of  otiiers  the  great  importance  of  being  free  froni  all  kinds 

of  aith. 


It 

and 
ciuli 
and 
uiniit 

Dani 
1  Im^s 


J^*  URN  At. 


«r 


It  is  now  the  first  day  of  April,  1814,  and  the  small  pox 
and  tvphtis  fever  istilt  prevails  in  the  different  ships,  espe- 
cially on  board  the  ship  called  the  Bahama.  One  hundred 
and  sixty-one  Aniericans  were  put  on  hoard  her  in  the 
uiniith  of  January.  She  had  been  used  as  a  prison  for 
Danish  sailors,  many  of  whom  were  sick  of  typhus  fever. 
T!*"se  Americans  came,  like  the  rest  of  us,  from  Halifax  ;• 
beiiif;  weak,  weary,  fatigued,  and  half-starved,  their  de- 
jected spirits  and  debilitated  bodies,  were  aptly  disposed 
to  imbibe  the  contagion.  Accordingly  soon  after  they 
went  on  board,  they  were  attacked  with  it.  All  the  Danes 
are  sent  out  of  her;  and  her  upper  deck  is  converted  into 
an  hospital ;  and  the  surgeon  has  declared  the  ship  to  be 
infectious  ;  and  no  one  communicates  with  her  but  such  as 
suppjy  tiie  ship  and  attend  the  sick. 

While  ^^  sick  and  imprisoned,''^  Mr.  Beasly  visited  us 
not ;  but  sent  his  clerk,  a  Mr.  Wirlliams,  to  supply  the 
niost  needy  with  clothes  ;  and  instead  of  applying  to  the 
committee,  who  could  have  informed  him  correctly  who 
most  needed  them,  he  adopted  the  mode  most  liable  to  lead 
to  deception  and  injustice.  This  Mr.  B.  seems  from  the 
benMniiing,  to  have  considered  his  countrymen  as  a  set  «)f 
cheating,  lying, swindling  raseaU  ;  and  a  mutual  contempt 
lias  pxi*led  between  them.  We  wish  ail  our  ofticers  and 
agents  would  bear  in  mind  this  fact,  that  complacency 
begets  complacency  ;  and  contempt  beget.s  contempt. 

VV'e,  Americans,  have  jieen  and  severely  felt  ^he  highly 
perniciuiifl  and  demoralising  tendency  of  gamhlins;  ;  and 
we  have  been  long  wishing  to  break  up  the  practice  ;  and 
cur  selectmen,  or  committee,  were  determined  to  effect  it. 
We  accordingly  took  a  vote,  agreeably  to  the  custom  of 
eur  country,  and  it  was  found  to  be  the  will  of  the  majori- 
ty to  prohibit  the  practice  of  it.  Wc  began  with  the  rou- 
lette table,  or  as  our  men  called  them,  •'  wheels  of  for- 
tune." After  no  sm^U  opposition  from  the  French  offi- 
cers, we  succeeded  in  putting  them  down  ;  but  we  could 
not  succeed  so  easily  against  the  billiard  tables  It  was 
contended  by  many  that  it  was  an  exen'ise,  and  a  trial  of 
skill  :  and  if  conHned  to  a  halfpenny,  or  one  cent  a  game, 
it  coiild  not  be  daHs;erous  to  the  morals  or  property  of  the 
community.  On  this  a  warm  and  lonj;  dispute  arose,  iu 
defining  gamblina:  The  playing  of  billiards  for  a  c»*nt  a 
game;,  was  contended  to  be  a  museular  exercise,  upd  not 


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,gamMing  ;  whereas  cards  were  denounced,  as  a  studied, 
.sedentary  contrivance,  for  the  artful  to  draw  money  from 
the  pockeU  of  the  artless. 

The  owners  of  "  the  wheels  of  fortune"  were,  perhaps, 
envied.  They  made  muney  and  lived  better  than  the  rest, 
and  the  same  remark  was  made  of  the  owners  of  the  bill- 
iard tables.  In  the  course  of  debate  they  were  tauntint^Iy 
cailed  the  privileged  order,  and  risin«;  from  one  det^ree  of 
odious  epithet  to  another,  I  could  not  help  laus^hins^,  on 
hearing  one  angry  orator  pronounce  this  scheme  of  screw- 
ing money  put  of  the  pockets  of  the  artless,  and  then 
laughing  at  their  poverty  and  distress,  to  be  down  right 
FEurRALisM.  Now  it  should  be  known  that  a  Federalist 
and  Federalism^  are  the  most  odious  ideas  that  can  be 
raised  up  in  the  minds  of  every  American  prisoner  in  this 
•k'iver.  A  law  was,  therefore,  proposed,  to  fine  any  Amer- 
ican prisoner,  who  should  call  another  a  Federalist. 

This  state  of  contention  continued  five  or  six  days  ; 
when,  1  am  sorry  to  say  it,  the  gambling  party  increased 
rather  than  lessened.  At  length  two  of  the  party  ven- 
tured to  recommence  gambling— one  of  them  was  imme- 
diately sent  for  by  the  committeti,  who  ordered  him  to  be 
confined  in  the  black  hole.  This  lit  up  a  blaze  the  com- 
mittee little  contemplated.  Tiie  whole  body  of  the  com- 
mons cried  out  against  this  summary  and  arbitrary  pro- 
ceeding. This  wa.i  pronounced  to  be  such  an  alarming 
attack  on  the  liberty  of  the  prisoners,  that  every  freeman 
in  the  prison  ship  was  called  upon  to  rise  up  and  resist  the 
daring  encroa^ehment  on  the  birth-right  of  an  American. 
A  strong  party  was  at  once  formed  in  favor  of  the  man 
who  was  imprisoned  without  a  trial.  On  this  occasion  the 
iiames  of  Hamden,  Sydney,  and  Wilks,  were  echoed  from 
all  quarters  of  oi»r  prison  The  liberty  of  the  citizen,  and 
false  imprisonment  were  discanted  on  in  a  luud  and  mov- 
ing manner.  Some  talked  of  a  writ4>f  habeas  corpus,  but 
others  knew  not  what  it  meant  :  but  all  agreed  that  it  was 
unconstitutional  to  confine  a  man  in  prison  without  trial. 
One  man  had  the  imprudence  to  say  that  they  would  have 
French  fashions  among  them,  of  imprisoning  and  hanging 
a  man,  and  trying  him  afterwards.  This  roused  the  ire 
of  some  of  the  otilicers  of  that  nation,  who  declared  in  a 
rage,  that  it  was  not  the  fashion  in  France  to  hang  u  man 
and  try  him  afterwards.    They  all  agreed,  however,  that 


JOURKAL. 


S9 


it  was  an  illegal  aet  to  confine  the  man  without  trial ;  and 
that  this  was  a  precedent  dan<ii;eroiH  to  the  liberties  of  the 
prisoner,  and  that  they  ought  to  protest  against  it.  This 
WAS  a  curious  scene  to  the  surgeon,  and  some  other  pretty 
sensible  English  officers  ;  one  of  whom  observed  to  anoth- 
er, in  my  hearing,  these  Americans  are  certainly  the  most 
singular  set  of  men  1  ever  met  with.  The  man  who  had 
heen  confined,  was  allowed  to  come  from  his  confinement, 
and  speak  for  himself.  He  had  "  the  gift  of  the  gab," 
and  a  species  of  forcible  eloquence  that  some  of  our  law-. 
yers  might  envy.  He  would  have  distinguished  himself  in 
any  of  our  town  meetings;  and  with  cultivation,  might 
have  shone  in  history.  He,  however,  committed  that  very 
common  fault  among  our  popular  orators,  he  talked  too 
much.  The  President  of  the  Committee  was  not  much  of 
a  speaker  ;  but  he  was  a  man  of  sense  and  prudence. 
Cool  as  he  was,  he  was  thrown  a  little  off  his  guard  by  au 
intemperate  phrase  of  the  culprit ;  who,  in  the  ardor  of 
his  defence,  accused  the  President  of  being  a  Federalist  ; 
and  this  turned  the  current  of  favor  against  the  unguard- 
ed orator,  and  he  was  from  all  sides,  hissed.  When  quiet 
was  restored,  the  President  took  advantage  of  the  current 
just  turned  in  his  favor,  and  said,  <^  Fellow  Prisoners  !  I 
perceive  that  I  have  committed  an  error  in  confining  this 
man  without  a  previous  trial,  and  I  am  sorry  for  it.  At 
the  time,  I  thought  I  was  doing  right,  but  1  now;  see  that 
I  was  wrong."  He  then  proposed  to  have  the  accused 
regularly  tried,  before  the  full  committee,  which  he  hoped 
would  prove  themselves  the  real  representatives  of  the 
community,  collected  in  course  of  events  within  the  planks 
of  an  enemy's  prison  ship.  He  exhorted  the  committee 
not  to  be  influenced  by  party,  prejudice,  or  local  attach- 
ment, but  to  act  justly  and  independently.  The  accused 
was  allowed  to  speak  for  himself.  He  was  not  an  old 
Jack  Tar,  bat  the  son  of  a  respectable  New  England  yeo- 
man, with  a  clear  head,  and  not  destitute  of  learning,  nor 
was  he  ignorant  of  the  law.  He  defended  himself  with 
real  ability,  and  the  spirit  of  Emmet  spoke  within  him. 
Among  other  things,  he  said—"  What  have  I  done  to 
bring  down  upon  me  the  resentment  o^  the  committee,  and 
the  vengeance  of  its  President  ?  In  attemptint;  to  establish 
the  rights  of  this  little  community,  I  have  suffered  the  ig- 
nominy of  a  close  confinement,  by  the  order  of  my  own 

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countrymen.  While  we  are  suffering  oppression,  degra* 
dation  and  insult,  from  the  external  enemy,  shall  we  re* 
double  our  misery,  by  wrongfully  oppressing  one  mother  ? 
I  thought  it  my  duty  to  exert  myteif  in  faror  of  an  'j'qual- 
ity  of  rights  among  us.  I  could  not  bear  to  hear  the  dom- 
ineering'^language,  and  «ee  the  overbearing  conduct  of  the 
purse  proud  among  us  ;  of  a  set  of  cunning,  tricking, 
slight-of-hand  men,  who  were  constantly  stripping:  the  uu- 
wary  and  artless  American,  of  the  small  sums  he  had  ac- 
quired, nut  by  gaming,  but  by  labor  and  good  behaviour. 
]  was  an  enemy  to  all  this  ;  but  I  was  a  friend  to  the  free* 
dom  of  judgment,  and  the  freedom  of  action,  provided  it  did 
not  injure  the  whole.  If  after  what  has  been  experienced, 
our  countrymen  will  gamble  with  certain  Frenchmen, 
above  the  rank  of  common  seamen,  let  them  do  it,  and  enr 
dure  the  consequences.  It  is  wrong  to  attempt  to  abridge 
the  liberty  of  amusement,  if  that  amusement  does  not 
liarm,  or  endanger  the  comfort  of  the  whole."  The  man 
ivas  acquitted,  and  escorted  to  his  birth  in  triumph;. 
^'  It  is  surprising  what  trifling  things  will  influence  a 
crowd  !  A  few  minutes  previous  to  this  man's  bold  h&rr 
rangue,  every  one,  almost^  was  against  him  ;  but  as  soon 
as  he  tickled  the^r  ears  with  a  flourishing  speech,  where 
ra?3iT^  more  abi!ily  was  shewn  than  was  expected,  instantly 
they  ckp  ihetr  ii^iiids,  admire  his  talents,  applaud  his  sen- 
timents, and  think  directly  contrary  to  what  they  did  five 
minutes  Ikefore.  From  this  incident,  have  I  been  seriously 
impressed  with  the  dangerous  effects  of  eloquence.  Here 
this  man  made  <*  the  worse  appear  the  better  reason.'^ 
But  how  many  instances  have  we  of  the  same  effect  in  the 
Grecian,  Roman,  English  and  French  history  ! 

This  trial,  and  xhis  specimen  of  oratory,  convinced  me 
that  Liberty  is  the  parent  of  ejloquence.  I  have  noticed 
a  striking  difference  between  our  men  and  those  of  Eng- 
land, with  all  their  loud  talk  of  English  freedom.  When 
an  American  speaks  to  an  officer  set  over  him,  he  utters 
all  that  he  has  to  say,  in  a  ready  and  fearless  manner ; 
but  when  these  Englishmen  come  on  board  of  us  to  bring 
vegetables,  or  any  thing  else  to  .dispose  of,  they  stand  with 
their  caps  off^,  scratching  their  heads,  through  awe,  and 
embarrassment ;  and  every  other  word  is,  **  Yes,  your 
Honor,"  or,  '*  Will  your  Honor  have  this,  or  your  Honor 


liave  that  |  and  your  Honor  knows 


bestj" 


and  all  siicfc 


M 


«« 


JOURNAl^ 


•1 


fti^an  and  slavish  lanp;uage.  It  is  remarkable  t'iiat  you 
never  hear  this  sort  of  language,  and  see  this  servile  man- 
ner, in  the  common  savages  of  our  wilderness  It  belongs 
only  to  the  common  people,  and  I  am  told,  to  the  shop 
keepers  of  England,  and  to  our  negroes.  Necessity  first 
inspires  the  poor  with  awe  for  the  rich,  and  by  and  by,  it 
gro^rs  into  a  principle. 

A  day  or  two  after  these  transactions,  we  resumed  the 
consideration  of  the  practice  of  gamblings  and  we  turned 
the  tables  against  the  billiard  players  ;  and  they  were  ta- 
ken down  by  an  almost  unanimous  conseui  ;  whatever 
some  individuals  thought  or  wished,  the  £;en<  '«1  opinion 
was  so  strong,  that  they  dare  not  express  it.  author^ 

ity  of  the  committee,  and  the  authority  of  th.  President, 
were  established  more  firmly  than  ever. 

While  writing  down  the^ie  occurrences,  I  have  thought 
that  we  might  here  see  the  great  characters,  and  the  im- 
portant doings  of  the  Grecian^  Roman  and  American  Re- 
publics, in  a  very  small  compass.  Here  we  saw  the  strug- 
gles of  vice  and  virtue,  wisdom  and  folly,  and  the  desire 
of  distinction,  and  the  ambition  of  taking  the  lead,  and 
the  little  workings  of  emulation,  amid  rags  and  tatters. 
As  often  as  I  moaned  over  wearied  moments  of  captivity, 
I  do  not  think  the  time  entirely  lost  to  me.  I  learnt  (i 
great  deal.  I  saw  close  to  them  the  first  workings  of  those 
springs  which  set  republics,  kingdoms,  empires,  and  ar- 
mies in  motion  ;  the  winds  and  tides,  without  which,  the 
great  ocean  of  humnn  life  would  stagnate,  and  all  within 
its  vast  bounds  would  perish — until  now,  I  saw  the  human 
heart  covered  over  by  pride,  encrusted  by  avarice,  or 
cloaked  round  by  hypocrisy  ;  I  now  saw  it  exposed,  naked 
and  bare,  to  the  inspection  of  each  man's  neighbour. 

There  are  among  us,  Americans,  on  board  this  prison 
ship,  some  men  of  sense  and  principle  ;  but  there  are  ma- 
ny more,  especially  among  the  soldiery,  some  of  the  low- 
est of  the  American  community  ;  the  very  dregs  of  the 
American  people.  They  are  lazy,  dirty,  lying,  and  prof- 
ligate ;  and  yet  they  are  total  strangers  to  some  of  the 
worst  vices  of  these  Frenchmen.  But  1  forbear  to  enlarge, 
and  shall  quit  this  odious  subject,  by  wishing  that  all 
young  Americans  may  stay  at  home,  and  if  possible,  never 
mix  with  these  veterans  in  vice,  who  inhabit  what  is  call- 
ed the  old  world.    Next  to  the  French,  I  believe  the  Irish 


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the  next  in  Tieions  actions.'  An  Irishman  appears  to  hav« 
more  spirit  than  brains.  There  are  only  two  situations 
in  whieh  an  Irishman  seems  perfectly  happy,  viz.  when 
he  has  plenty  of  liquor  to  drink,  and  a  number  of  friends 
to  give  it  to  $  and  perhaps  we  may  add,  when  he  is  wran- 
gling; in  a  mob.  They  are  amiable,  yet  bloody ;  they  have 
the  noblest  feelings,  with  savage  hearts.  Tlieir  passions 
have  the  most  rapid  transitions,  so  that  they  will  hug  a 
man  one  minute,  ahd  the  next  knock  him  on  the  head.  I 
speak  only  from  my  observations  in  this  confined  place.— 
With  the  same  limitation  I  speak  of  the  Portuguese  and 
Spaniards,  a  few  of  whom  are  here  among  us.  They  are 
rattle  snakes  ;  shining,  glossy,  nialignanl  and  revengeful^ 
beyond  any  fellows  1  ever  met  with.  They  are  void,  how- 
ever, of  one  virtue  of  our  rattlesnakes  ;  they  will  stab  a 
man  to  the  heart  without  giving  him  any  warning.  I  have 
charitably  supposed,  that  when  in  a  violent  passion,  they 
arc  bereft  of  reason,  and  become  entirely  insane.  My  ob- 
;»ervations,  however,  like  my  remarks  on  Frenchmenj 
are  confined  to  the  narrow  space  of  this  floating  prison. 
We  should  be  very  cautious  in  making  general  or  national 
censures.  I  have  suspected  whether  among  the  Roman 
Catholics,  the  practice  of  confession  and  absolution,  had 
not  opened  a  door  for  some  horrid  crimes,  such  as  murder. 
It  may  be,  too,  that  they  look  upon  us,  Protestants,  as 
the  Mahomedans  do  the  Christians,  a  sort  of  outcasts,  the 
killing  of  whom  amounts  not  to  the  horrid  sin  of  murder. 
It  is  certain  that  some  of  these  people  have  been  known 
to  plunge  a  knife  into  a  man,  with  no  more  compunction 
than  an  Englishman  or  an  American  would  use  his  fist. 


1' 

•"..•:;v^    '■    ^  ■   :   r 

>.    - 

^V 

■'.  J-T- 

1     CHAPTER  VII. 

t'si 

•  V 

Jpril20tii,i8i4>. — ^The  good  effects  of  the  abolition  of 
1x11  the  apparatus  of  gambling,  were  more  and  more  ap- 
parent. Those  who  were  heretofore  employed  merely  in 
rattling  of  llie  dice,  and  shuffling  of  cards,  were  now  occu- 
pied in  matters  more  becoming  a  rational  and  accounta- 
ble being.     They  are  now   busily  employed  in  reading, 


M 


JOURNAL. 


«5 


i 


m'Wingi  drawing,  and  in  studying  arithmetic  and  naviga- 
tion. Our  ship  begins  to  wear  the  appearance  of  a  semi- 
nary of  learning;  for  we  have  established  numerous 
schools,  in  various  parts  of  the  ship ;  and  there  appears  a 
strong  desire  for  improvement  among  the  younger  class  of 
the  prisoners.  Every  one  is  now  convinced  of  the  perni' 
•ious  efiects  of  gambling.  In  order  to  improve  this  praise- 
worthy  disposition,  the  committee,  which,  is  in  fact  a 
aboard  of  selectmen,  applied  to  the  agent,  Mr.  Beasly,  for 
stationary  ;  he  accordingly  sent  us  a  ream  of  writing  pa- 
per, a  few  slates,  and  a  few  copies  of  a  small  treatise  on 
arithmetic  His  supply  was  by  no  means  equal  to  our 
needs.  Four  times  the  number  would  have  been  in  con- 
stant use ;  for  it  checked  the  emulation  of  some,  when  they 
conld  not  obtain  what  they  wished. 

It  was  pleasing  to  see  a  number  of  quite  young  men  pre- 
ferring education  to  gaming,  noise  and  uproar ;  not  but 
what  we  hud  among  us  a  set  of  noisy,  thoughtless,  gig- 
gliaj^  idle  fellows,  mere  drums,  that  sounded  loud  by 
reason  of  their  emptiness.  I  never  was  so  thoroughly 
convinced  of  the  great  importance  of  a  good  education, 
grounded  on  souun  and  serious  principles,  as  since  I  have 
formed  one  among  this  congregation  of  wretchedness.  I 
fear  1  shall  betray  my  partiality  if  I  should  candidly 
write  down  my  observations  on  this  subject.  We  Ameri- 
cans are  taught  from  our  infancy  not  only  to  btlieve,  but 
to  think,  compare,  and  hold  fast  that  which  we  find  to 
be  good.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  Roman  catholic  religion 
takes  all  the  trouble  of  thinking  and  examining  from  off 
the  mind  of  their  believers.  It  is  a  seheme  of  rules  and 
discipline  not  very  unlike  that  of  the  military,  and  its 
punishments  horrible.  The  episcopal  church  of  England 
treads  close  upon  the  heels  of  the  papal,  and  has  formed 
a  system  all  cut  and  dried,  like  the  catholic,  for  a  man  to 
believe  and  be  saved.  Both  of  them  make  religion  a  sta- 
tionary point,  and  not  a  motive  of  principle,  forever  pro- 
gressing to  perfection.  One  never  dares  to  think,  or  speak 
beyond  the  bounds  of  that  common  prayer  book,  establish- 
ed by  the  king  and  hid  council :  whereas  an  American 
reads  or  hears  read  the  bible  from  his  infancy,  and  there- 
by acquires  a  freedom  of  thinking,  unknown  even  to  the 
generality  of  Englishmen.  I  should  never  have  thought 
M  much  on  these  subjects  had  I  not  remarked  the  dil^*^ 

■I    '■'    ;■  ■  AJS  ■      -  .    •-       .^  it  :■',    -i-;-,-..-      ■     ,  .,,.■'•,         "-,-    f      ■-■/-. 


'    ■  vii 


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JOURNAL* 


ence  of  thinkins;,  and  behavior  of  the  di6ferent  people  here 
croudfd  to^^ether.  1  do  not  presume  to  ^ay  which  is  best^ 
or  which  is  worst ;  i  can  only  say  which  is  the  freest  from 
bigotry,  and  which  ia  least  trameiled  by  ordinances  merely 
political. 

*  he.  ragged  and  dedpised  legislators  of  the  Crown  Prince 
prison  ship,  in  solemn  council,  between  decks  convened|^ 
never  adopted  a  wiser  measure  than  that  of  breaking  up 
the  dangerous  habit  of  gambling.  I  had  an  idea  that 
gaming  often  become  the  ruling  passion  ;  but  I  never  be- 
fore had  an  idea  of  its  fascinating  power.  Some  of  our 
crew  of  reputed  good  habits  became  so  bewitched  with 
gaming,  that  they  plundered  their  companions  and  return- 
ed to  their  cards  and  wheels  of  fortune  with  a  serious  and 
anxious  ardor,  totally  void  of  pleasantry,  that  seemed  to 
.  uie  to  border  upon  insanity. 

After  the  gaming  tables  were  demolished,  some  of  our 
eompaiiiuns  amusea  themselves  by  running*  and  tumbling, 
and  scampering  about  the  ship,  disturbing  those  who  wtre 
disposed  to  read,  write  and  study  navigation  Not  din* 
tent  with  this,  they  hollowed,  ridiculed  and  insulted  people 
passing  in  vessels  and  boats  up  and  down  the  river.  The 
commander  had  no  small  diflliculty  in  putting  a  stop  to  this 
disgraceful  river-slang. 

On  receiving  a  month's  pay  from  Mr.  Beasly,  our  agent, 
80  called,  every  prisoner  contributed  three  pence  towards 
a  fund  for  purchasing  beer.  They  formed  themselves  into 
classes,  like  our  collegians,  and  these  appointed  persons 
to  sell  it  to  those  who  wished  for  it ;  and  each  member  of 
the  class  shared  his  proportion  of  the  profits.  This  an- 
swered a  very  good  purpose ;  it  cheeked  the  monopolizers 
flnd  muck  worms  that  infested  our  ship,  and  fattened  oo 
«)ur  wastefulness.  It  also  benefitted  those  who  did  not 
choose  to  drink  beer,  or  porter,  as  they  call  it  in  England. 
Some  disagreeable  and  very  mortifying  occurrences  took 
place  among  us  in  the  course  of  this  spring.  Four  of  our 
men  agreed  together  to  go  on  to  the  quarter-deck  and  offer 
'themselves  to  the  commander,  to  enter  into  the  service  of 
the  British.  Their  intention  was  discovered  before  they 
liad  an  opportunity  of  putting  it  in  eieeutioq.  Two  of 
them  were  caught  and  two  escaped.  These  two  were  art 
raigned  and  sentenced  to  be  marked  with  the  letter  T,  witj^ 
^I^£a  ink;  prieked  into  t^eir  foreheads;  being  the  initial  ^df) 


/,- 


■■■*' 


JOURNAL* 


90 


tiie  word  Traitor  f  after  which,  one  went  aft  and  entered ; 
the  other  jiuig;ed  better,and  remained  with  his  countrymen. 
Had  these  been  Englishmen  we  should  have  appladded 
them ;  and  had  they  heen  Irishmen,  we  had  no  right  to 
blame  them  ;  but  we  had  the  mortification  tu  know  thai 
they  were,  by  birth,  AnHncans.  Home  thiiught  the  pun- 
ishment was  too  severe,  and  which  we  had  no  right  to  iu- 
Aict ;  others  thought  that  the  letter  in  their  foreheads 
should  have  been  F,  for  Federalist;  for  this  was  the 
name  they  ever  afterwards  were  known  by. 

The  Frenchmen  were  now  (in  the  month  of  May)  leav-> 
ing  the  reach.  Many  of  them  had  been  in  prison  since 
1803.  These  men  are  going  home  to  live  under  a  govern- 
ment forced  upon  them  by  foreigners  !  How  unlike  .\mer-> 
ieans,  who  had  rather  perish  under  tortures.  Our  French- 
men always  spoke  in  raptures  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon, 
and  with  contempt  oi' Louis.  When  we  spoke  in  praise  of 
Bonaparte,  they  would  throw  their  arms  around  us,  and 
cry  out,  one  bon  American  !  But  these  men  are  all  passion 
and  no  principle  ;  they  are  fit  for  any  thing  but  liberty. 
1  cannot  judge  of  the  whole  nation;  but  those  1  have  seen 
here,  are  an  abandoned  set  of  men.  I  dare  not  writedown 
their  incredible  vices.  There  '.as  heen  a  great  cry  of 
French  influence  by  the  British  part)  in  New  England.  I 
never  thought  it  ever  existed,  and  1  am  very  certain  that 
it  never  will  exist,  unless  they  and  we  should  become  a. 
very  altered  people.  It  is  a  happy  circum&tance  that 
the  w  ide  atlantic  rolls  between  us  and  France,  and  between 
us  and  England,  :  >  i< »    • 

Louis  I8th,  passed  through  Chatham  this  month  for 
France.  The  tops  of  the  carriages,  only,  were  to  be  seen 
by  the  prisonsrs.  On  this  occasion,  the  cannon  w«re  fir- 
ing from  London  to  Sheernesa.  Our  Frenchmen  looked ; 
blacker  than  ever.  They  were,  be  sure,  obliged  to  stick 
the  white  cockade  on  their  hats,  but  they  told  us  they  had 
Bonaparte's  cockade  in  their  hearts.  They  eheck  the  ex«  - 
pression  of  their  feelings,  lest  it  should  retard  their  liber* 
ation. 

On  the  news  of  taking  of  Paris,  and  of  the  flight  of  Bof 
naparte  to  Elba,  all  our  prison>keepers  were  alive  for  joy. 
'^  Thank  God  that  1  am  an  Englishman^^  says  our  com- 
mander, lieut.  O.— .and  *'  thank  God  I  am  a  Briton,**  says 
our  lurgeon;  who  is  «  SeotchnHta.    Mn  Bull  is  Be^gr  fn 


'1 


M 


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hm 

f 
i 

y-i 


•m 


'■}■■ 


^ 


'm\ 


H- 


JOURNAL. 


the  very  top  of  (he  steeple,  huzzaing  and  ^  winging  his  hat, 
and  crying  out  to  the  whole  universe,  *^  Vm  thinking 
Johnny  Hull,  the  magnanimous  John  Bull,  the  soul  of  the 
continental  war,  the  protestor  of  France,  the  restorer  of 
liiB  holiness  the  Pope,  and  of  Ferdipand  the  Great,  the  ter- 
ror and  admiration  of  the  whole  world.  I  have  nothing 
now  left  me  to  do,  bui  to  flog  the  yaukees,  and  depose 
Madison,  and  burn  the  city  of  WasSiington,  disperse  the 
Congress,  establish  in  their  place  the  Hartford  Convention 
and  raise  Caleb  Strong  to  the  high  rank  his  devotion  mer- 
its. After  this,  I  will  divide  the  world  between  me  and  . 
But  first,  I  will  read  these  dispatches  from  Sir  George 
Prevostf  who  is,  beyond  doubt,  at  this  very  moment,  at  tm 
city  of  Hartford,  in  Connecticut,  or  at  the  city  of  North 
Hampton,  the  capital  of  my  province  of  Massachusetts. 

John  Bull*  is,  be  sure,  an  hearty  fellow,  with  some  very 
^od  points  in  his  character ;  but,  dwelling  on  an  islana, 
he  oft  times  betrays  an  ignorance  of  the  world,  and  of  him- 
self, so  that  we  cannot  help  laughing  at  him,  once  in  a 
while,  for  his  eenceitedness.  His  ignorance  of  America, 
and  Americans,  is  a  source  of  ridicule  among  us  all.  An 
£nglish  lady  said  to  one  of  the  officers  who  nad  the  eare^ 
of  American  prisoners  in  England,  ^*  I  hear.  Sir,  that  the 
Americans  are  very  ingenious  in  the  manufactory  of  many 
little  articles,  and  should  like  to  have  some  of  them."  The 
offieer  replied  that  she  might  herself  give  directions  to 
gome  of  the  Americans,  whom  he  woula  direct  to  speak 
with  her.  <*  O,**  said  she,  "  how  can  that  be,  I  cannot 
speak  their  language  P^  The  individuals  of  the  navy  of 
IBngland,  have  pretty  correct  ideas  of  us ;  but  the  soldiery 
of  England  have  betrayed  their  ignorance  in  a  manner 
that  is  astonishing^  and  sometimes  truly  laughable,  even 
among  their  officers  wh»  have  taken  prisoners.  To  this 
ignorance  of  free  and  happy  America,  and  to  the  very  gen- 
erally diffused  blessings  of  a  respeetable  cdueation,  which 
we  all  enjov,  is  to  be  attributed  tne  base  treatment  we  have 
experienced  in  some  periods,  of  onr  painful  captivity.  Whe 
could  have  entertained  any  respect,  or  good  opinion  of  a 
set  of  miserable  looking,  half  naked,  dirty  men,  such  as  we 
all   were  when  we  arrived  in  the  different  ships  from 


*  Our  youngest  readers  need  not  be  told,  that  by  John  Bull,  we  meaa 
Ihe  English  nation  personified.  SceDc||lilSwift'8»dlDirablc  biUorVof  John 
lull,  h«  wifcj  and  hij  mother,  ■  ^^^  ,__  _J'. 


'  ~i*<r- 


JOURNAL. 


«r 


America?  Our  own  parents,  oiir  brothers  and  sistersy 
would  not  have  recognized  us  as  their  relatives.  The  sol- 
diers taken  under  Boestler,  were  the  veriest  looking  vaga- 
bonds 1  ever  saw.  They  resembled  more  the  idea  1  have 
formed  of  the  lowest  tenants  of  St.  (>iles%  than  American 
eilJKens,  born  and  bred  up  in  a  sort  of  Indian  freedom,  and 
living  all  their  lives  ip  plenty,  and  never  knowing,  until 
they  came  into  the  bands  of  the  KngUsh,  what  it  was  to- 
be  pinched  for  food,  or  to  be  infested  by  vermin.  This 
short,  severe,  and  for  America,  most  glorious  war,  has- 
given  all  ranks  of  the  British  nation. more  correct  ideas  of 
that  people, who  have  vanquished  them  in  every  contest,  the 
ill-omened  frigate  Chesapeake  alone  excepted.  During  this- 
short  war,  the  British  have  learnt  this  important  truth, 
that  the  Americans  are  a  brave  and  skiTtul  people,  who, 
though  they  appear  to  differ  among  themselves,  are  all 
united  agaiinstany  attack  from  the  English  ;  and  on  our  side 
we  have  learnt,  that  to  carry  on  a  war  as  we  have  done^ 
is  very  expensive*  .._,:^:l..:,._..,..[^^.:::i.....:^J.^^..-^-L.,J:.... 

The  surgeon  of  this  ship,  who  is  a  clever  Scotchman^ 
speaks  of  the  English  nation  as  in  a  state  of  starvation 
in  tlie  midst  of  her  great  power,  and  abounding  wealthy 
and  matchless  glory  ;  for  the  late  capture  of  Paris,  by  thm 
English^  with  a  trifling  assistance  of  the  allies,  has  abso<^ 
luteiy  intoxicated  the  whole  nation,  so  that  every  man  of 
them  talks  as  if  he  were  drunk.  He  told  me,  **  that  al-- 
though  the  ship  carpenters,  at  Chatham,  received  two 
guineas  a  week,  (which,  by  the  way,  is  not  so  much  as  our 
carpeuters  receive  in  America)  they  were  always  pour,- 
and  could  lay  up  nothing  against  the  accidents  of  siekness,^ 
but  that  when  such  misfortunes  came  upon  them,  they,  in 
common  with  the  manufacturers  of  England,  uith  their 
families,  went  upon  the  parish,  or  into  some  hospitals  " 
He  said,  ^'such  laboring  people  laid  out  too  much  of  their 
money  in  flesh  meat  and  in  porter,  which  was  not  the  cus* 
torn  in  Scotland :  and  that  there  it  wa»  considered  an  in- 
delible  disgrace  to  a  family  to  be  maintained  by  the  parish, 
but  that  it  was  so  common  in  England,  that  no  dii«grace 
was  attached  to  it.  We,  in  Scotland,  (said  he)  would  work 
our  hands  off  before  any  of  our  family  should  ask  the  par- 
ish for  assistance  to  live."  He  talked  much  about  the  poor 
laws,  and  the  taxes  to  support  the  vast  number  of  the  poor 
in  England.  I  told  him  that  in  Massachusetts^  which  esit* 


mm 


-m 


if: 


^m 


iKU   ,  m 


\'-  t"'l 


.-v:;Aii!5fe 


69 


JOURNAL 


Wi 


!  mi 


\m 


E.M^i^^- 


to' ill 


'■■S'ilill 


,i*ta!li 


i 


tttined  about  half  a  million  of  people,  we  hail  not  more) 
than  a  thousand  persons  maintained  at  the  public  charge  ; 
and  that  this  thousand  included  foreigners— English, 
8cotch,  Irish,  Germans,  Danes,  Swedes,  and  not  a  few  ne^ 
^roes.  He  seemed  surprised  at  this  aceoitnf,  but  after  a 
lliltle  pause  he  said,  <<  it  was  just  like  Scotland,  where  they 
had  very  few  poor  $  and  of  those  vefy  few  were  so  degrad- 
ed in  mind,  as  to  go  into  an  alms>house.'' 

The  Doctor  observed,  **  that  the  English  were  full  of 
money  $  that  they  give  large  and  long  credit,  and  that  tay- 
lors,  shoe-makers  and  hatters  gave  a  generous  credit,  and 
oould  afford  so  to  do."  He  said^  *<  that  the  *  capitalists* 
ruled  and  turned  the  wheels  of  the  government  at  their 
Will  and  pleasure;  they  have  great  influence  in  the  nation, 
hut  they  have  no  ancestors,  nor  any  thing  to  boast  of  but  their 
money,  which  gives  them  all  their  consequence ;  for  it  is 
true  if  they  shut  their  purses,  the  whole  machinery  of  the 
government  must  stop.'*  I  could  have  told  this  discontent- 
«4  Caledonian  a  ditferent  story.  I  oould  hnvo  told  him  that 
all  our  capitalists,  itier'ehaiits  and  monied  men,  especially 
in  New  England,  had  shut  their  purses  against  our  admin- 
istration, and  yet,  in  spite  of  these  detestable  sons  of  mam- 
mon, our  ^vemmental  machine  went  steadily  on,  while 
we  vanquished  our  enemy  by  land  and  by  sea ;  but  I  did 
not  wish  to  mortify  a  civil,  friendly  man.  "  In  England,*^ 
continued  he,  <'  the  merchant  governs  the  cabinet ;  and  the 
cabinet  goVerMft  the  parliament }  and  the  sovereign  governs 
both ;  bat,  (said  he)  the  ^capitalists,  (by  which,  he  meant 
the  mercantile  interest)  govern  the  whole."  I  did  not 
ehoose  to  controvert  his  opinions;  but,  <' thinks-I-to-my- 
self,'*  ah !  Sawney,  thou  art  mistaken;  America,  demo- 
eratic  America,  has  proved  that  the  most  democratical 
government  upon  the  terraqueous  globe,  have  gone  stead- 
ily on  to  greatness,  to  victory  and  to  glory,  with  the  capi- 
talists or  mercantile  interest,  in  direct  opposition  to  its 
wondrous  measures !  '-'l- ';?>>* 

1  believe  that  our  surgeon  was  a  good  man,  and  not  ill 
qualified  in  his  profession,  but  no  politician,  and  pretty 
strongly  attached  to  his  tribe ;  who,  froin  his  account, 
never  spent  much  money  in  buying  meat  and  strong  heir. 
He  talked  much  of  the  machine  and  wheels  of  govern- 
ment; from  all  which  I  concluded,  that  the  court  of  St. 
James',  was  the  hub,  or  nave,  where  all  the  spokes  of  the 


lo 


JOURNAL. 


great  wheel  of  tlie  machine  terminated ;  and  that  the  la- 
boring people,  manufaeturers,  a^d  merchants  were  doom- 
ed, all  their  days,  to  g;rea8e  this  wheel.  It  is  remarkable 
that  David,  the  royal  Psalmist,  among  the  severest  of  the 
curses  of  his  enemies  expiessl^  says,  **  Lordf  make  theri^ 
like  unto  a  wheel  *^  , 


•"'■'*.  V  f' 


•i>^f»^r*v-  ',-,t.'? 


l»ViJ     » 


>'^ 


*<^  ,-^:i!lfc!^ 


■    t  '      ■ 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  month  of  April,  which  is  just  past,  is  like  oor  April 
in  New  England,  raw,  cold,  or  as  the  English  call  it,  sour^ 
But  their  month  of  May,  which  is  now  arrived,  is  pleas,- 
anter  by  far,  than  ours.  ■  By  all  that  I  can  observe,  I  cour 
elude  that  (he  vernal  season  of  this  part  of  the  Island  of 
Britain,  is  full  fifteen  days,  if  not  twenty,  earlier  than 
that  of  Boston.  I  conjecture  that  ,this  spot  corresponds 
with  Philadelphia. 

The  Medway,  though  a  small  river  in  the  eyes  of  a« 
inhabitant  of  the  new  world,  is  a  very  pleasant  one.  The 
moveable  picture  an  its  surface,  of  ships,  tenders,  and 
barges,  is  very  pleasing,  while  its  banks  are  rich  and 
beautiful.  Oh  what  a  contrast  to  horrid  Nova-Scotia, 
with  her  barren  hills,  and  everlasting  bleak  mountains  !—- 
The  picture  fri^m  the  b^anks  of  the  river  to  the  ttop  of  the 
landscape,  is  truly  delightful,  and  beyond  any  thing  I  ever 
saw^in  my  own  country,  and  this  is  owing  to  the  liedges^ 
which  are  novelties  in  the  eyes  of  an  American.  In  ou.r 
country,  tlie  fields,  meadows  and  pastures  are  divided  by 
stone  walls,  or  the  rough  post  and  rail  fence  $  but  here 
their  fields,  pastures  anu  enclosures,  which  ate  very  small^ 
compared  with  ours,  are  made  by  hedges,  or  living  grow- 
ing vegetables,of  a  deep  and  jnost  beautiful  green.  It  gives  9, 
richness  to  the  English  land8cape,beyond  allexpression  fine. 
How  happens  it,  I  wonder,  that  hedges  Jiave  never  bee^ 
introduced  into  «2VVti;  England,  who  has  copied  so  closely 
every  thing  h^^longing  to  ()/(2  England  ?  Should  I  ever  be 

f»ermittefl  to  leave   this  Babylonish  captivity,  and  be  al- 
owed  once  more,  to  see  our  own  Canaan^the  eneiositres  pf 
he(lis&  sj^all  iu>t  be  fprgflU^n. 


111 


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100 


JOUUNAl. 


Nearly  opposite  our  doleful  prison  stands  the  village  of 
Oillinn^hanu  adorned  witb  u  handsome  ehitreli ;  on  the  side 
next  Chatham,  Ataiids  the  castle  defeutled  by  more  than  an 
hundred  cannon.  These  fortifications  were  erected  soon 
after  the  Dutch  republicans  sailed  up  to  Chatham,  and 
singed  John  Bull's  beard, since  which  it  is  said,  he  changes 
countenance  at  the  name  of  a  republic.  We  are  told  in 
the  history  of  Gillint^ham,  that  here  the  famous  Earl  Good- 
win murdered  six  hundred Normanp^entlemen  beluns^ing  to 
the  retinue  of  Prince  Alfred.  But  some  such  shocking 
story  i«  told  of  almost  every  town  in  England  that  has  an 
old  castle,  an  old  tower,  or  an  old  cathedral.  This  village 
once  belonged  to  an  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  vestiges  of 
vrhose  palace  are  yet  to  be  seen.  This  place  is  also  noted 
for  making  what  i^  absurdly  called  copperas,  which  is  the 
crystalized  salt  of  iron,  or  what  is  called  in  the  new  ehe- 
mical  nomenclature,  sulphate  of  iron  ;  or  in  common  par- 
lance, green  vitriol;  which  is  manufactured,  and  found 
native  in  our  own  country. 

Near  to  this  village  of  Gillingham,  is  a  neat  house  with 
a  good  garden,  and  surrounded  by  trees,  which  was  be- 
queathed by  a  lady  to  the  oldest  boatswain  in  the  Ro}'al 
Navy.  The  present  incumbent  is  80  years  ef  age.  With- 
in our  view  is  a  shepherd  attending  his  flock  with  his 
canine  lieutenants,  who  drive  them  into  their  pen  in  the 
evening,  just  as  our  shepherd  does  us  on  board  the  Crown 
Prince.  In  a  clear  day  the  masts  of  the  ships  can  be  seen 
passing  up  and  down  the  Thames.  This  brings  to  our 
minds  our  own  gallant  ships,  whose  decks  we  long  once 
more  to  tread. 

:l  Britain  pursues  a  m&lignant  policy,  in  confining  us  in  a 
loathsome  prison.  The  Britains  know.,  probably,  that  a 
]ong  and  lingering  imprisonment  weakens  the  body,  and 
diminishes  the  energy  of  the  mind;  that  it  disposes  to 
vice,  to  a  looseness  of  thought,  and  a  destruction  of  those 
moral  principles  inculcated  by  a  careful  and  early  educa- 
tion.  Such  a  sink  of  vice  I  never  saw,  or  ever  dreamt  of, 
as  I  have  iseen  here.  Never  was  a  juster  saying  than  that 
of  <<  Evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners.*'  One 
viaious  fellow  may  corrupt  an  hundred,  even  if  he  speaks 
unother  language.  I  have  been  tHornugfaly  convinced  of 
tlie  wisdom  of  solitary  imprisoiitinent.  By  what  I  have 
seen  and  heard  in  this  ship,  where  there  are  generally 


JOURNAL. 


101 


«  from  seven  to  nine  hundred  men«  that  such  collections  are 
so  many  hot-beds  of  vice  and  villany.  It  is  a  college  of 
Satan)  where  degrees  of  wickedness  are  conferred  e  meri- 
to.  Here  we  have  freshmen,  sophomores,  juniors,  and 
seniors,  in  roguery,  together  with  Bachelors,  Masters  of 
Arts,  and  Doctors. 

Is  it  not  a  shame  and  a  disgrace  to  Christian  natives, 
that  because  a  man  has  had  the  virtue  to  step  forward  in 
the  cause  of  his  country,  in  the  cause  of  free  trade  and  sail- 
ors' rights,  or  from  that  glow  of  chivalry  that  fills  a 
youthful  bosom,  or  the  sound  of  the  warlike  drum  and 
trumpet,  and  the  sight  of  the  waving  flag  of  his  insulted 
country ;  is  it  not  a  shame  that  such  a  young  man  of  pure 
morals  and  careful  education,  should  be  plunged  into 
such  an  horrid  prison  as  this  ?  amid  vice,  and  roguery, 
and  every  thing  else,  debasing  to  the  character  of  so  mor- 
al a  people  as  the  Americans  really  are  ? 

The  prisoners  and  the  commander  had  lived  in  pretty 
good  harmony,  until  very  lately.  Some  of  our  men  had 
absolutely  cut  a  hole  througn  the  ship,  near  her  stern, 
and  cut  the  copper  all  round  the  hole,  excepting  at  the 
under  side,  which  enabled  them  to  bend  down  the  copper 
at  their  pleasure,  and  open  a  passage  into  the  water,  and 
to  re-close  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  escape  detection.  It 
was  offected  with  a  great  deal  of  art  and  good  management. 

The  first  dark  night  after  this  newly  contrived  stern- 
port  was  finished,  sixteen  of  the  prisoners  passed  through 
it  into  the  water,  and  swam  safely  on  shore,  notwithstand- 
ing a  sentinel  was  stationed  directly  above'the  hole.  They 
took  care,  however,  to  allure  him  as  far  forward  as  they 
could,  by  singing  droll  songs,  and  handing  about  some 
grog,  which  had  been  provided  for  that  purpose.  Sixteen 
was  thought  to  be  as  great  a  number  as  could  be  prudent- 
ly ventured  to  escape  at  once  ;  for  one  night  the  copper 
which  operated  like  a  door  upon  its  hinge,  was  considera- 
bly ruptured,  and  the  prisoners  gave  over  the  attempt, 
and  retired  to  their  hammocks  again. 

The  next  evening  the  prisoners  were  to  be  counted;  and 
it  was  of  the  first  importance  to  keep  up  the  entire  num- 
her,  and  prevent  the  detection  of  our  plot.  To  this  end 
we  cut  a  hole  through  one  deck,  big  enough  for  one  man 
to  pass  from  one  enclosure  of  prisoners  to  the  other. 
There  was  always  a  number  of  prisoners  left  oq.  eael^ 
9 


■t'i 


« 


)E 


'    -N  ' 


,  i  11 


■  ;i' 


* 


} 


■  ■' ,? 


!i'. 


M«  V. 


/ 


102 


JOURNAL^ 


•15  ••If 


deck,  wild  were  counted  bv  the  sergeant  below ;  while  the 
Serjeant  passsed  from  the  lower  deck  to  the  next  above  it, 
sixteen  men  slipped  through  the  hole,  and  were  counted 
over  again ;  and  this  deception  kept  the  numbers  good,  and 
this  trick  was  practised  several  times  with  success.  The 
nights  were  now  too  light  fur  a  second  attempt  to  escape. 
MHien  they  became  siifticiently  dark  again,  we  prepared 
for  u  second  attempt.  After  drawing  lots  for  the  chance, 
each  man  was  provided  with  a  little  bag  of  cloths,  plais- 
tered  over  with  grease,  to  keep  them  water  tight,  they 
passed  agreeably  to  lots  drawn,  to  the  hole  near  the  stern 
of  the  ship.  Two  got  well  into  the  water,  but  one  of 
them  was  tender  and  timid.  Trepidation  and  the  cold- 
ness of  the  water  made  him  turn  back  to  regain  the  hole 
lie  crept  out  of.  In  coming  near  the  staging  where,  the 
sentinel  was  posted,  he  heard  the  poor  fellow  breathe, 
and  at  length  got  sight  of  him  ;— *<  Ah,'*  says  paddy, "  here 
is  a  porpoise,  and  I'll  stick  him  with  my  bayonet.'* — On 
which  the  terrified  young  man  exclaimed — *<  don't  kill 
me,  I  am  a  prisoner."  The  sentinel  held  out  his  hand 
and  helped  him  on  to  the  staging,  and  then  fired  his  gun  to 
give  the  alarm.  The  guard  turned  out,  and  the  ofticers 
ran  down  in  a  fright,  not  being  able  to  conceive  how  the 
man  could  have  got  over  board,  surrounded  with  a  plat- 
form, and  guarded  as  this  ship  was  They  ran  here  and 
there,  ana  questioned,  and  threatened,  and  rummaged 
about ;  at  length  they  discovered  the  sally  port  of  the  en- 
emy. The  oifieers  stood  in  astonishment  at  the  sight  of  a 
liole  big  enough  for  a  man  to  creep  through,  cut  through 
the  thick  planking  of  a  ship  of  the  line.  While  they  star- 
ed- and  looked  pale,  many  of  the  prisoners  burst  out  a 
laughing.  None  but  an  American  could  have  thought 
and  executed  such  a  thing  as  this.  One  of  the  officers 
said  he  did  not  believe  that  the  Devil  himself  would  ever 
be  able  to  keep  these  fellows  in  hell,  if  they  determined 
on  getting  nut ! 

The  poor  fellow  who  bad  crept  out,  and  erept  baek 
again,  was  so  chilled,  or  petrified  with  fear,  that  he  eould 
give  the  officers  no  account  of  the  matter.  In  the  mean 
time,  muskets  were  fired,  and  a  general  alarm  through 
ihe  fleet  of  prison  ships,  fifteen  in  number.  The  river 
was  soon  covered  with  boats,  but  not  a  man  could  they 
find.   The  next  day  the  man  who  escaped  was  found  dead 


JOURNAL. 


loa 


•n  the  beach,  where  he  lay  two  day!  in  the  sieht  of  us  all. 
At  length  a  coroner's  inquest  was  held  upon  him;  but  no 
one  was  examined  by  the  jury,  excepting  the  crew  of  the 
boat,  who  first  discovered  him.  It  was  said  that  there 
were  bruises  about  his  head.  His  ship*Qiates  said  that  he 
Mas  one  of  the  best  swimmers  they  ever  knew.  It  was 
strongly  suspected  that  he  was  discovered  swimming,  and 
that  some  of  the  marines  knocked  him  on  the  head,  in  re- 
venge for  turning  them  out  of  their  hammocks  in  the 
night.  His  clothing,  his  money,  and  his  watch  were  tak- 
en by  lieutenant  Osmore,  the  commander  of  this  prison 
ship.  It  was  disgraceful  to  the  people  and  to  the  oivil 
authority,  to  allow  the  man  to  lay  such  a  long  space  of 
time,  unexamined  and  unburied,  on  the  shores  of  a  chris- 
tian people. 

When  the  prisoners  were  called  to  answer  to  their 
names,  those  absent  were  called  over  several  times;  when 
some  of  the  prisoners  answered  that  the  absentees  had 
been  paroled  by  the  commander,  and  gone  on  shore.  This 
saucy  answer  enraged  the  commander,  excited  his  resent* 
ment,and  laid  the  foundation  for  future  diiliculties. 

I  must  needs  say,  that  some  of  our  young  men  treated 
Mr.  Osmore,  the  first  officer  of  this  prison  ship,  in  a  man- 
ner not  to  be  excused,  or  even  palliated.  If  they  did  not 
love  him,  or  esteem  him,  still,  as  he  was  the  legally  con- 
stituted commander  of  this  depot  of  prisoners,  he  was  en- 
titled to  good  manners,  which  he  did  not  always  receive, 
as  the  following  anecdote  will  show.  Not  long  after  the 
escape  of  the  sixteen  men,  our  commander  and  his  family 
were  gettinglinto  the  boat  to  gn  on  shore,  when  a  boy  looked 
out  of  a  port  near  to  him,  and  cried  out  baa  !  baa  !  This, 
Mr.  Osmore  took  as  an  insult,  and  ordered  the  port  to  be 
shut  down ;  but  the  messes  that  were  aeeommodated  by 
the  light  from  it,  forced  it  up  again.  Now  the  origin  of 
this  ludicrous  and  sheep-like  interjection  was  this  ;  a  story 
was  in  circulation  that  lieut.  O.  had  taken  some  sheep 
from  the  neighboring  marshes,  without  leave  or  license, 
and  converted  them  to  his  own  use,  and  that  the  owner  be- 
ing about  to  prosecute  him,  the  UflTair  wai^  made  up  by  the 
interposition  of  friends,  on  compensation  being  made. 
Now  it  is  probable  that  there  was  not  a  word  of  truth  in 
this  story ;  but  that  was  the  report.  The  commander, 
thersfore,  on  finding  his  orders  resisted  by  the  prisoners, 


■  m 


•i  ;  I , 


^■■■v 


<  ^'  I 


lO-t 


JOURNAL. 


nd 


'M 


directed  some  marines  to  shut  the  port  and  confine  it  down 
with  spikes,  and  ordered  the  sentinel  to  fire  uito  the  port 
if  they  forced  it  open  again.  Upon  this,  some  of  the  pris- 
oners tore  up  a  large  oaken  bench,  with  which  they  fore- 
ed  open  the  port,  and  kept  the  bench  out,  so  as  to  keep  up 
that  valve,  or  heavy  shutter,  sustained  on  hinges,  that 
when  down,  closes  the  port  hole,  at  the  same  time  the 
sheepish  note  of  baa  J  baa  J  baa!  was  uttered  from  every 
part  of  the  ship;  sounding  like  an  immense  flock  of  sheep, 
that  might  have  been  heard  full  a  mile.  Although  none 
of  us  could  help  joining  in  the  loud  laugh,  for  laughter  is 
contagions,  the  most  prudent  of  our  countrymen  condemn- 
ed the  conduct  as  highly  improper.  It  h  said,  if  one 
man  is  deternj<i:ed  to  insult  another,  let  him  do  it  and 
abide  the  consequences,  but  never  insult  a  man  in  presence 
of  his  family.  If  we  Americans  are  in  the  habit  of  rid- 
iculing ribands,  and  garters  and  keys,  and  crowns  and 
sceptres,  and  mitres,  and  high  sounding  titles,  let  us  never 
attempt  to  diminish  the  dignity  of  patriarchal  rank. 

The  riot  did  not  end  here  $  for  when  the  commander 
found  that  he  couid  not  keep  the  port  entirely  shut,  he 
ordered  the  marines  to  drive  the  prisoners  off  the  forecas- 
tle down  into  the  pound,  which  occasioned  the  boys  to  sing 
out  as  before  ;  and  even  to  be  more  insulting.  This  he 
was  determined  to  bear  no  longer;  and  he  therefore  drove 
them  all  below,  allowing  only  the  cooks  to  remain  in  the 
galley,  and  the  caterers  to  go  upon  deck,  to  get  water 
i'rom  the  tanks.  The  market 'boats  were  forbidden  to 
come  near  us,  and  in  this  state  of  embargo  we  remained 
during  two  days,  all  the  time  confined  merely  to  the  gov- 
ernment allowance  of  food.  At  length,  the  committee  re- 
quested the  commander  to  transmit  some  letters  for  them 
to  the  American  agent  for  prisoners,  and  to  the  British 
commodore.  This  he  could  not  well  refuse.  These  two 
officers  accordingly  came  down  to  us.  They  requested  the 
president  of  the  committee  to  state  to  them  the  cause  and 
course  of  the  dispute.  Mr.  Osmore  stated  his  complaint, 
and  the  president  of  our  committee  replied,  and  stated 
ours  ;  and  among  other  things,  observed  that  the  word 
«<  6aa*'  had  no  more  meaning  than  a  thousand  other  sense- 
less cries,  uttering  constantly  from  the  throats  of  idle, 
thoughtless  boys  ;  and  begged  Mr.  Osmore  to  explain  how 
such  an  unmeaning  sound  could  be  construed  into  an  iu- 


JOURNAL. 


103^ 


suit :  that  if  he  and  his  officers  should  cry  baa!  baa.'  baa! 
all  day,  none  of  the  Americans  would  think  themselves  in- 
jured or  affronted.  As  to  forcibly  keeping;  the  port  open, 
the  president  observed,  that  however  offended  he  mi^lit  be 
with  a  saucy  boy,  the  men  did  not  deserve  to  be  deprived 
of  the  light  oT  heaven,  and  to  he  confined  below,  and  re- 
duced to  a  smaller  allowance  of  food.  The  result  was, 
the  hatches  were  ordered  to  be  taken  off,  and  we  were  all 
restored  to  our  former  situation.  Capt.  Hutchinson  ac- 
quired an  additional  stock  of  popularity  with  the  prison- 
ers for  this  decision  in  our  favor.  The  prisoners  are  dis- 
criminating and  not  ungrateful.  The  sailing-master,  who 
i<i  a  Scotchman,  has  always  treated  us  with  great  tender- 
ness and  humanity.  He  has  attended  to  our  Little  conven- 
iences, and  forwarded  our  letters.  Mr.  Barnes  never  de- 
scends to  little  contemptible  extortions ;  nor  is  he  on  the 
continual  watch,  lest  his  dignity  should  suffer  by  a  look, 
a  tone,  or -a  playful  iuterjectioji.  When  Osmore  is  absent 
and  Barne^  gives  orders,  it  is  instantly  and  cheerfully 
obeyed.  If  there  is  any  disorder,  this  worthy  Scotelunan, 
can,  by  a  word,  restore  harmony,  of  which  we  might  give 
many  instaneesu  In.  reprimanding  a  boy  the  other  day, 
for  ill  behavior,  he  said  to  him,  "  I  expect  better  things  of" 
you  as  an  American  ;  1  consider  you  all  in  a  diffietieut  light 
from  that  of  a  d— rd  set  of  French  monkies.'*' 

Mr.  Galbreath  is,  likewise,  a  Scotchman;  and' he,  too, 
is  a  very  worthy  man.  These  two  worthy  Caledonians 
operate  together  in  alleviating  our  hard  lot;  and  they  da 
as  much  to  please  us,  as  the  jealous  and  revengeful  dispo- 
sition of  some  body  else  will  admit  of:  We  are  all  pretty 
healthy,  and  the  hospital  arnangements  oa  board  are  brok- 
en up;  some  few  remain  on  board  the  hospital  ship. 

Tenders  are  daily  passing  down  the  river,  filled  with 
seamen  and  marines,  bound  to  America.  As  they  pass  by 
us,  they  play  *'  Fankee  Doodle,*^  and  cry  out  to  us,  that 
they  are  bound  to  America,  to  ftog  the  yankees.  We  hoi-, 
low  to  them,  in.  return,  and  tell  them  what  they  will  maet 
there,  and  predict  to  them  their  fate.  Some  of  tln'se  fel- 
lows have  been  seven  years  at  sea,  and  would  des.rt  ta 
our  colour  the  first,  opportunity.  These  white  slaws. ex- 
pected to  enjoy  a  little  something  like  fiecdnm.  at  the- 
Conclusion  of  the  peace ;  but  inst«ud  of  setting  their  feet, 

8*  .       •    ' 


f*"; 


■;     'I 


liii 


.■■'it 


ill 


M:      %•    i' 


!,i 


4 


i06 


JOURNAL 


'''i;4ii 


iliiif 


on  shore,  tliey  are  now  sent  off  to  leave  tlieir  bones  in 
America,  without  a  moment's  notice  of  their  destination. 

June  30th,  1814.  Early  in  this  month  three  men  con- 
cealed themselves  In  the  water  tank,  through  the  conniv- 
ance of  the  corporal  of  the  guard,  and  so  escaped  from 
prison.  More  would  have  gone  off  by  the  same  convey- 
ance, had  not  one  of  the  fugitives  written  an  ironical  let- 
ter to  the  commander,  thanking  him  for  his  tenderness, 
humanity  and  extreme  kindness,  and  foolishly  acquainting 
him  with  the  method  he  took  to  effect  his  escape  ;  and  this 
led  to  his  re-capture.  Another  fellow  had  the  address  to 
conceal  himself  in  an  old  worn  out  copper,  that  was  sent 
to  the  dock  to  be  exchanged  for  a  new  one.  This  man  got 
safe  out  of  the  copper,  but  he  found  himself  as  bad  6fl['  in 
the  dock  as  in  the  prison  ship.  After  roving  and  ramb- 
ling around  the  dock,  he  was  taken  up  by  the  guard,  and 
rattier  than  be  sent  on  board  a  man  of  war,  he  confessed 
ibat  he  had  broke  out  of  the  prison  ship  ;  and  he  was  im- 
mediately brought  back  to  his  former  companions. 

A  rage  exists  for  cutting  holes  through  the  wood  work 
and  copper  of  the  ship  ;  but  no  one  has  succeeded  in  es- 
caping through  them.  The  holes  were  always  discovered 
as  the  men  were  ready  to  enter  the  breach,  which  led  us 
to  suspect  that  we  have  secret  informers  among  our  erew^ 
perhaps  some  Irish,  Dane,  or  Dutchman. 

A  most  daring  attempt  to  escape  was  made  on  board 
the  commodore's  ship,  the  Irresistible,  by  four  American 
prisoners.  It  is  worth  relating  for  its  boldness ;  for  it 
was  in  the  open  day,  when  all  eyes  were  upon  them.  The 
jolly-boat  lay  near  the  stairs,  with  her  oars  in,  under  the 
care  of  a  sentry.  Notwithstanding  she  was  thus  guarded, 
four  brave  Americans  resolved  to  seize  her  in  spite  of 
•musketry,  and  row  on  shore,  and  run  for  it.  One  of  them 
was  from  Rhode  Island,  being  an  Indian  of  the  Narragan- 
set  tribe ;  h^e  was  a  man  of  lar<j;e  stature  and  remarkable 
strength  :  and  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  lead  the  way, 
in  the  bold  entprprize.  This  stout  man,  whose  name  I 
wish  I  could  remtmber,  saw,  as  he  thought,  a  favorable 
>innment,  and  went  down  the  side  of  the  ship,  followed  by 
•three  others  ;  he  seized  the  sentry,  and,  in  a  moment,  dis- 
nrm(>d  him,  and  threw  him  into  the  jolly-boat,  which  was 
below  the  sta^^eing,  where  the  sentinel  was  placed,  lie 
imqi^diately  jumped  in  after  him,  the  other  three  cloisely 


Ik:   "^ 


^FOCRNAL. 


lor 


lioncs  in 
stinatioii. 
men  con- 
e  conniv- 
led  from 

convey- 
nical  let- 
nderness, 
|uaiiitin^ 

and  this 
(idress  to 
was  sent 

man  ^ot 
ad  6tf  in 
id  ramb- 
Eird,  and 
confessed 

was  im- 
s. 

od  work 
d  in  es- 
^covered 
h  led  us 
iir  erevtr, 

in  board 
merican 
;  for  it 
jm.  The 
nder  the 
*iiarded, 
spite  of 
of  them 
irrat^an- 
larkable 
he  way, 
name  I 
ivorable 
wed  by 
?nt,  dis- 
ich  was 
id.     He 
clctsely 


follouing  him,  when  t'liey  instantly  pushed  off,  snatched 
up  the  oars,  and  rowed  direct  for  the  shore,  with  the  Agil- 
ity of  so  many  Nantuclet  whalemen.     The  rapidity  and 
complete  effect  with  which  all  this  was  done,  was  aston- 
ishing to  the  British.    They  were,  however,  soon  fired 
upon  by  all  the  sentries,  who  had  any  chance  of  reaching 
them,  from  all  the  ships  as  (hey  passed.     They  got  out 
their  numerous  boats  with  all  speed,  and  placed  in  uie  bow 
of  each  as  many  mari  les  as  could  well  stand,  and  these 
kept  up  a  continued  fire  of  musketry  upon  the  four  fugi- 
tives in  the  jolly-boat,  ballasted  with  a  British  prisoner. 
Notwithstanding  the  close  and  heavy  firing,  they  wound- 
ed but  one  of  the  four;  so  that  three  of  them  were  able  to 
run  for  it  when  the  boat  reaphed  the  shore.    As  soon  as 
they  sat  foot  on  shore,  they  made  directly  for  the  fields. 
The  marines  soon  followed,  firing  every  few  moments  up- 
on them,  but  without  hitting  them.    Our  men  so  complete- 
ly distanced  them,  that  we  all  thought  they  would  make 
their  escape  from  his  majesty's  marines  ;  and  they  would 
have  effected  it,  had  not  the  country  people  poured  out  of 
the  farm-houses,  and  the  brick-yards.    In  a  few  minuter 
the  fields  appeared  covered  with  people.     They  outraiv 
the  marines,  and  pursued  our  brave  adventurers  so  closely 
from  all  points,  that  they  exhausted  them  of  breath,  and 
fitirly  run  them  down,  all  except  the  nervous  Indian,  and 
'  he  did  honor  to  the  Narraganset  tribe,  and  his  brave  an- 
cestors, so  renowned  in  New  England  history.*^    We  saw 
him  from  the  Crown  Prinee  prison  ship,  skipping  over  the 
ground  like  a  buck,  and  defying  his  pursuers ;  but  unfor- 
tunately for  this  son  of  the  forest,  he  sprained  his  ancle 
in  leaping  a  fence,  which  compelled  him  to  surrender  y 
otherwise  he  might  have  ran  on  to  London,  in  fair  chace, 
before  they  could  have  come  up  with  him. 

While  sitting  on  the  ground,  and  unable  to  walk,  by 
cason  of  his  dislucatea  bone,  the  country  people  ap- 
proached him  with  caution.  They  did  not  think  it  quite 
safe  to  come  close  up  to  a  man  of  his  extraordinary  s!at- 
nre  and  commanding  aspect.  He  was,  however,  soon  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  number  of  marines,  who  had  the  great 
honor  of  recapturing  a  lame  Indian,  and  conducting  hin& 
back  again  to  his  Britannic  majesty's  fleet  of  three  de^k-^ 
ers,  at  anchor  off  his  royal  dock  of  Chatham  I 

•  S«c  Dr,  HolroesV^onal**    ■.-'.' 


r*1 


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Jl..;;  >■■    ''J 


am 


1  'il: 


4   t     -m 


iSB 


J6lrllNAL. 


M" 


We  made  several  attempts  to  gain  our  liberty  wliile  h  • 
ing  in  the  river  Medwuy  ;  but  none  of  our  darinaj  feats 
equalled  this  of  the  Indian.  We  gave  hiin  the  name  of 
Baron  Trenck,  and  pronounced  him  his  superior ;  for  he 
had  to  pass  the  fire  of  several  ships  ;  and  the  jolly-boat  ap- 
peared to  be  surrounded  in  a  shower  of  shot,  and  yet  only 
one  man  was  wounded  in  the  leg.  When  the  Indian  had 
made  the  fields,  and  was  ascending  the  rising  ground,  all 
^he  prisoners  in  our  ship  gave  him  three  cheers.  We 
cheered  him  as  he  came  along  back  in  the  boat  with  his 
comrades,  and  drank  their  healths  in  the  first  liquor  we 
obtained.  It  is  for  deeds  of  bravery,  and  indications  of  a 
commanding  mind,  and  superior  strength  and  agility  of 
body,  that  our  aboriginals  in  North  America  appoint  their 
kings ;  and  certainly  there  is  more  sense  and  reason  in  it, 
thdn  making  the  son  a  king,  because  his  father  was  king. 
This  Indian  was,  by  nature,  a  commander. 

It  was,  be  sure,  an  extraordinary  siglit,  mixed  with 
something  of  the  ludicrous — to  see  three  white  Americana 
and  one  Indian,  with  a  disarmed  British  red-coat  un'ler 
their  feet,  in  the  jolly-boat,  not  daring  to  raise  his  head, 
while  about  thirty  boats,  with  above  ^90  seamen,  and 
nearly  as  niany  marines,  were  rowing?  and  piiil^Hg  and 
blowing,  anjd  firing  and  loading,  and  loading  and  firing  at 
a  small  boat,  containing  three  American  seamen  and  onQ 
Indian^  without  any  weapon,  or  instrument,  except  the  oars 
they  rowed  witlh  While  the  British  marines were  ruff- 
ling the  water  around  the  flying  boat  with  their  bullets, 
we,  on  board  the  prison,  ships,  sensible  of  their  danger^ 
felt  as  much  interest,  and  probably  more  apprehension, 
than  the  fugitives  themselves.  It  was  an  anxious  period 
of  hope,  fear  and  animating  pride,  which  sometimes  petri- 
fied us  into  silence,  and  then  caused  us  to  rend  the  air  with 
acclamations,  and  clapping  of  hands.  The  Indian,  was, 
however,  the  hero  of  the  piece.  We  saw,  and  admirecl 
his  energetic  mind,  his  abhorrence  of  captivity,  and  his 
irresistible  love  of  freedom.  This  fellow  was  not,  proba- 
bly, at  all  below  some  of  the  Grecian  captains,  who.  went 
to  the  siege  of  Troy  ;  and  he  only  wantea  the  advantages 
of  education,  and  of  modern  discipline,  to.  have  become  i^ 
distinguished  commander.  The  inspiring  love  of  liberty 
M'as  all  the  theme,  after  the  daring  exploit  of  our  coun- 
trymen^ and  it  made  as  uneasy  ana,  stiuiulated  us  to  eoiiv 


JOURNAL. 


100 


!'■; 


template  similar  acts  of  hardihood.  We  had  no^v  become 
pretty  nearly  tired  of  cutting  holes  through  the  ship's  bot» 
torn  and  sides,  for  it  was  always  detected,  and  we  were 
made  to  pay  for  repairing  the  damage  out  of  our  provis- 
ions. After  seeing  what  four  uen  could  effect,  our  thoughts 
turned  more  upon  a  general  insurrection  than  upon  the 
partial  escapes  of  a  few.  We  perceived,  clearly  enough, 
that  our  keepers  dreaded  our  enterprising  spirit ;  \^nd  we 
could  discover  that  they  knew  that  we  despised  them,  and 
ridiculed  them.  Some  of  oar  saucy  boys,  studying  arith- 
metic, with  their  slates  and  pencils  in  their  hands,  would 
say  out  loud,  as  if  stating  a  sum,  '*  if  it  took  350  British 
seamen  and  marines  to  catch  four  yan/cees^  how  many  Brit- 
ish sailors  and  marines  would  it  take  to  catch  ten  thousand 
ofusr' 

We  could  perceive  a  general  uneasiness  throughout  our 
ship ;  even  our  good  friend,  Mr.  ,  the  worthy 

Scotchman,  said  to  me  about  this  time,  your  countrymen 
are  such  a  restless,  daring  set  of  beings,  that  it  it  is  not 
safe  to  befriend  you,  and  1  wish  you  were  all  safe  and  hap- 
py- in  your  own  country,  and  all  of  us  at  peace.  A  change 
of  situation  was  foretold,  bat  of  what  kind  we  know  not< 
The  next  chapter  will  inform  us  all  about  it. 


BND  OF  FART  FIRSf. 


'■i^A     y  -  ■  '         ^ 


M 


PART  SECOND. 


mm 

■'Jipl  I 


CHAPTER  I, 

IN  conseqncnee  of  various  attempts  to  escape  prisoiif' 
and  oi'tlie  late  daring  enterprise  at  nonn-day,  the  oflieers 
of  this  ii^noble  fleet  of  prison  ships  grew  very  uneasy. 
They,  doubtless,  felt  that  there  was  neither  honor  nor 
pleasure,  but  mueh  danger  in  this  sort  of  service.  It  was 
often  said  among  them,  that  they  felt  perfectly  safe  when 
they  had  several  thousand  French  prisoners  under  their 
charge.  These  lively  people  passed  their  time  in  little  in- 
genious manufactures,  and  in  gaming,  and  seemed  to  wait 
patiently  until  their  day  of  liberation  should  come ;  but 
these  Americans,  said  they,  are  the  most  restless,  contriv- 
ing set  of  men  we  ever  saw  ;  their  amusement  seems  to 
be  contriving  how  to  escape,  and  to  plague  their  keepers. 
They  seem  to  take  <v  pleasure  in  making  us  uneasy,  and  in 
exciting  our  apprehensions  of  their  escape*  and  then  they 
laugh  and  make  themselves  merry  at  our  anxiety.  One 
of  (he  oflieers  said  that  the  American  prisoners  had  sys- 
tematised  the  art  of  tormenting.  Phere  is  a  sort  of  mis- 
chievous humor  among  our  fellows,  that  is,  at  times,  rath' 
er  provoking,  to  oflieers  habituated  to  prompt  obetiience, 
ami  a  distance  and  deference  bordering  upon  awe,  which 
our  countrymen  never  feel  for  any  man. 

It  seems  that  the  British  government,  or  the  admiralty 
department,  were  fully  acquainted  with  this  state  of  things 
and  with  the  diiBcult  task  which  the  miserable  officers  of 
this  miserable  Medway  fleet  had  to  perform.  The  gov- 
ernment did  not  seem  to  wish  to  t*xercise  a  greater  degree 
of  rigor  over  the  American  prisoners,  because  they  knew, 
and  all  Kurope  knew,  that  the  United  States  treated  their 
r!s(»ners  witli  distinguished  humanity  ;  and  yet  they  firm- 
y  believed,   that  unless  more  rigor  was  §xcrcised,  the 


I 


i  1 


J0I7RSAL* 


111 


things 
lers  of 
e  c;ov- 
legiree 
knew, 
tlieir 
firm- 
.  the 


Americans  would  rise  upon  their  keepers  before  the  win- 
ter cummenced. 

The  rumor  is,  that  we  are  to  be  sent  to  Dartmoor  prison. 
Some  of  our  crew  have  lately  received  a  letter  from  a  pris- 
oner in  that  depot  of  misery,  for  such  he  describes  it.  He 
tells  us  that  it  is  situated  in  the  most  dreary  and  unculti- 
vated spot  in  England  ;  and  that  to  the  sterility  of  the  soil 
are  added  the  black  coloring  of  superstition. 

A  *Muor,  a  word  not  used  in  America,  is  used  in  £ng- 
hind  to  denote  a  low,  marshy  piece  of  ground,  or  a  sterile 
spot,  like  our  pine  barren's,  divested  of  every  thing  like  a 
pine  tree.  It  denotes  something  between  a  beach  and  a 
meadow.  It  is  a  solemn  faced  truth  in  this  country  of  our 
superstitious  ancestors,  that  every  extensive  and  dreary 
moor,  in  England,  is  haunted  by  troubled  ghosts,  witches 
and  walking  dead  men,  visiting,  in  a  sociable  way,  each 
other's  graves.  It  is  really  surprising,  and  to  an  intelli- 
gent American,  incredible,  that  stout,  hearty,  and  other- 
wise bold  Englishmen,  dare  not  walk  alone  over  the  drea- 
ry spot,  or  moor,  where  the  prison  now  stands,  in  a  dark 
and  cloudy  night,  without  trembling  with  horror,  at  a 
nothing  !  Beside  the  stories  of  witches  flying  about  in  the 
air,  and  dead  men  strolling  over  the  moor,  the  letter  con- 
tained an  account  of  the  origin  of  this  new  famous  prison. 
It  stated  that  this  Dartmoor  belonged  to  that  beautiful 
gambler,  the  Dutchess  of  Devonshire,*  who  lost  it  in  a 
game  of  hazard  with  the  Prince  of  Wales,  who,  to  enhaace 
the  value  of  it,  (he  being,  as  all  the  world  knows,  a  con- 
triving, speculating,  economical,  close  fisted,  miserly  gen- 
ius) contrived  to  have  erected  there  a  species  of  a  fortress, 
enclosing  seven  very  large  buildings,  or  prisons,  for  the 
reception  of  captured  seamen  ;  from  which  establishment 
its  royal  landlord  received  a  very  handsome  annual  rent ; 
and  this  princely  anecdote  is, as  firmly  believed  as  the  sto- 
ries of  the  witches,  and  the  walking  dead  men.  The  only 
remark  we  would  make  upon  it  here,  is,  that  Dartmoor  has 
a  dismal  idea  associated  with  it—- and  that  was  suflieient 
to  make  our  people  conceive  of  it  as  a  place  doleful  as  a 
coal-pit. 

Not  long  after  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  one  hundred  add 

*  The  letter  writer,  we  suspect,  had  not  studied,  carefully,  the  laws  and 
customs  of  Eii^iand,  where  all  landed  property  belongs  to  the  king,  wh« 
allows  the  eldeic  male  of  a  family  to  poMest  it  during  his  good  behavior. 


■i  I 


■v :  ill! 


■!;;M 


■:^^-mm 


mx 


112 


JOURNAL. 


ijfty  of  our  countrymen  were  sent  oft'  by  water,  to  this 
Dartmoor  Prison  ;  but  the  measles  appearing  among 
them,  they  were  stopped  at  the  JVbre,  which  is  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Thames.  Thev  are  every  day  drafting  more, 
which  are  destined  for  the  dismal  prison-house.  We  are 
all  struck  with  iiurror  at  the  idea  of  our  removal  from  our 
ships  in  the  river  Medway,  which  runs  through  a  beauti- 
ful country.  It  is  *^  the  untried  scene,"  that  fills  us  with 
dread,  ^'  for  clouds  and  darkness  rest  upon  it."  Last 
year  we  were  transported  from  inhospitable  Nova  Scotia, 
over  the  boisterous  Atlantic,  and  suffered  incredible  hard- 
ships in  a  rough  winter  passage  ;  and  now  we  are  to  be 
launched  again  on  the  same  tumultuous  ocean,  to  go  four 
hundred  miles  eoast-wise,  to  the  most  dismal  spot  in  Eng- 
land. Who  will  believe  it  ?  the  men  who  exercised  all 
their  art  and  contrivance,  and  exerted  all  their  muscular 
powers  to  cut  through  the  double  plankings  and  copper  of 
a  ship  of  the  line,  in  hopes  of  escaping  from  her,  now  leave 
the  same  ship  with  regret.  I  have  read  of  men  who  had 
been  imprisoned  many  years  in  the  Bastile,  who,  when  lib- 
erated, sighed  to  rfflurn  to  their  place  of  long  confinement, 
and  felt  unhappy  out  of  it.  I  thought  it  wondrous  strange ; 
but  I  now  cease  to  be  surprised.  This  prison-ship,  through 
long  habit,  and  the  dread  of  a  worse  place,  is  actually 
viewed  with  feeliYigs  of  attachment.  Of  the  hundred  men 
who  were  sent  hither  last  year,  from  Halifax,  there  arc 
only  about  seventy  of  us  remaining  on  board  the  Crown 
Prince.  The  next  draft  will  lessen  onr  numbers,  and 
separate  some  of  those  who  have  been  long  associates  in 
bondage.  It  is  not  merely  the  bodily  inconvenience  of 
being  transported  here  and  there,  that  we  dread,  so  much 
as  the  exposure  to  insult  and  sarcasm  of  our  enemies.  We 
have  been,  and  still  dread  to  be  again  placed  in  rows,  on  • 
board  of  a  ship,  or  in  a  prison  yard,  to  be  stared  at  by  the 
British  vulgar,  just  as  if  we  were  Guinea  negroes,  ex- 
posed to  the  examination  of  some  scoundrel  negro  mer- 
chants, commissioned  to  re-stock  a  plantation  with  black 
cattle,  capable  of  thinking,  talking,  laughing  and  weep- 
ing. This  is  not  all.  We  have  been  obliged  often  to  en- 
dure speeches  of  this  sort,  most  commonly  uttered  in  the 
Scotch  accent — **  My  life  on*t  that  fellow  is  a  renegado 
Englishman — ^or  Irishman — an  halter  will  be,  I  hope,  hit 
portion.    D— .n  all  such  rebel  looking  rascals."    Whatev- 


JOURNAL. 


113 


er  onr  feelings  and  resentmentg  may  be  on  account  of  im- 
pressment, inhuman  treatment,  and  plundering  our  fobs 
and  pockets,  and  of  our  clothing,  we  never  speak  of  the 
British  king  and  government  in  terms  of  gross  indecency  ; 
whereas,  we  American  prisoners  of  war,  are  often  assailed 
with  the  bitterest  sarcasms  and  curses  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  tho  Congress,  and  some  of  our  military 
commanders. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  all  my  family,  as  well 
as  myself,  were  what  they  called  ^'  Federalists,"  or  fault- 
finders, and  opposers  of  Madison's  administration  ;  and 
that  I,  and  all  the  rest  of  ns,  dropt  every  trait  of  federal- 
ism in  the  British  prisons,  where,  to  call  a  man  a  Feder- 
alist, was  resented  as  the  deepest  insult.  I  appeal  to  all 
my  companions  in  misery,  for  the  accuracy  of  this  opin- 
ion. A  man  who  is  willing  to  expose  his  life  to  the  balls 
and  bayonets  of  his  country's  foes,  to  the  enemies  of  his 
government,  and  to  the  independence  and  union  of  his  na- 
tion, holds  his  country  and  the  government  of  his  choice, 
in  higher  estimation  than  his  life.  Such  a  man  cannot 
hear  the  United  States,  and  their  President,  spoken  of  in 
terms  of  contempt,  without  feeling  the  keenest  anguish. 
This  I  have  felt,  and  lia?e  remarked  its  effects  in  the 
countenances  of  my  insulted  comrades.  Situated  as  we  are, 
it  would  be  great  imprudence  to  resent  what  we  are  often 
obliged  to  hear.  Captivity,  under  British  prison  keepers, 
and  British  captains  of  transport  men  of  war,  are  thft 
proper  colleges  for  teaching  the  love  of  our  republican 
government,  and  strong  attachment  to  its  administration  ; 
and  they  are  proper  places  to  make  the  rankest  federal- 
ist abjure  his  errors,  and  cling  to  the  constituted  authori- 
ties of  the  country  whose  flag  he  adores,  and  for  whose 
defence  he  exposes  his  life.  It  is  inconceivable  how  closely 
we  are  here  pressed  together  in  the  cause  of  our  dear  coun- 
try, antf  in  honor  of  its  high  officers.  Were  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  United  States  as  unanimous  in  their  po- 
litical sentiments,  as  we  are,  in  the  river  Medway,  they 
would  all  be  ready  to  exclaim,  each  man  to  his  neighbour, 

Rouse,  and  revive  your  ancient  glory,     ,.  ,      .     'j 

Unite — and  drive  the  world  before  you.  '' "''  - 

July  1st,  1813.— >Our  feelings  are  all  alive  at  this  joy- 
ous season,  for  we  are  now  making  preparations  for  eele- 
iO 


« 


■ ,  f 


!'     IKI.J. 


114* 


JOURNAL. 


mm 


mm 


brating  the  birtli-day  of  our  nation  ;  and  though  in  cap- 
tivity, we  are  determined  not  to  suiler  the  glorious  B'ouriii 
of  July  to  pass  over  without  testifying  our  undivided  at- 
tachment to  our  beloved  country,  and  to  the  cause  it  is 
fighting  for.  Each  mess  are  making  arrangement  in,  be- 
flure,  a  small  and  humble,  but  a  hearty  way,  for  the  cele- 
bration ;  and  it  is  a  curious  spectacle,  to  see  the  pleas- 
ureable  anticipations  of  the  prisoners  in  a  feast  of  good 
things,  all  of  which  wpuld  not  amount  to  so  plentiful  a  re- 
past, as  that  which  the  criminals  in  our  State  Prison,  near 
Boston,  enjoy  every  day,  the  plenty  of  good  porter  except- 
ed. Application  has  been  made  to  Capt.  Hutchinson,  for 
an  additional  allowance  of  beer  and  porter,  which  request 
lie  has  granted,  with  his  usual  goodness.  Every  brain  is 
at  work  to  know  how  to  spend  what  we  have  been  accu- 
mulating for  the  Fourth  of  July,  with  the  most  pleasure 
and  the  most  propriety. 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1813,  is  past.  We  petitioned  the 
commander  to  allow  us  to  hoist  the  American  flag,  but  he 
refused  to  gratify  us.  Application  was  then  made  to  the 
Commodore,  who  gave  permission  that  we  might  hoist  our 
national  colors,  as  high  as  the  top  of  our  railings  ;  and 
the  same  permission  was  granted  to  all  the  other  prison- 
ships.  We  had  obtained  a  drum  and  fife  ;  and  being  all 
assembled  on  the  forecastle,  and  such  other  parts  of  the 
ship  as  were  accessible  to  us,  prisoners,  we  in  the  morning 
struck  up  the  animating  tune  of  Fankee  Doodle,  and  sa- 
luted the  Nassau  prison-ship  with  three  cheers,  which 
%va8  returned  ;  the  ships  more  distant  caught  the  joyful 
sound,  and  echoed  it  back  to  its  source.  The  fife  and 
drum,  the  latter  ornamented  with  the  king's  arms,  played 
the  whole  forenoon,  while  the  jovial  prisoners  drank,  in 
English  porter,  Success  to  the  American  cause  ! 

At  twelve  o'clock,  an  Oration,  hastily  prepared,  and 
rather  too  inflammatory  for  about  a  tentJi  part  of  our  au- 
dience, was  delivered,  by  a  prisoner  of  respectable  talents ; 
a  man,  who,  having  been  impressed  into  the  British  ser- 
vice, had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  boatswain  of  a 
frigate ;  and  liberated  from  the  service  in  consequence  of 
his  declaring  it  against  his  honor  and  conscience  to  fight 
against  his  countrymen,  or  aid  in  pulling  down  the  colors 
of  his  nation.  This  man  very  deliberately  mounted  an  el- 
evation, and  with  great  foree,  and  with  a  characteristic 


!   I- 


JOURNAL. 


119 


freedom,  pronounced  an  Address,  which  the  prisoners  list- 
ened to  with  profound  silence,  excepting  the  clapping  of 
hands,  aud  sometimes  cheers,  at  the  end  of  such  sentences 
as  warmed  and  overpowered  their  silence.  At  the  close 
of  the  whole,  the  orator  wa^  greeted  with  three  times 
three  cheers,  throughout  the  ship,  and  reached  even  to  the 
shores.  The  oratory  of  the  boatswain  seemed  to  electrify 
tlie  oflieers  and  men  set  over  us.  The  master  and  the 
surgeon  appeared  really  pleased  ;  evcnOsmer,  our  jailor, 
*^  grinn'd  horribly  a  ghastly  smile." 

After  the  Oration,  we  returned  below  to  our  prepared 
dinners,  at  which  our  reverend  orator  asked  -a  blessing, 
with  more  fervor  than  is  commonly  observed  in  our  Cos- 
sack clergymen  ;  and  we  fell  to,  with  a  zest  and  hilarity 
rarely  to  be  found  among  a  large  collection  of  prisoners. 
If,  like  the  captive  Jews  on  the  Euphrates,  we  had  hung 
our  harps  upon  the  willows  of  the  Medway,  we  took  them 
down  on  this  joyous  occasion.  We  felt  the  spirit  of  free- 
dom glow  within  us ;  and  we  anticipated  the  day  when 
we  should  celebrate  our  anniversary  in  that  dear  land  of 
liberty,  which  we  longed  to  see,  and  panted  after,  as  the 
thirsty  hart  pants  after  the  water  brooks.      ;    ■  ,  v 

The  Fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  in  a  very  becoming 
manner,  on  board  the  Nassau  prison-ship,  by  similar  acts 
of  rejoicing.  I  have  obtained  a  copy  of  the  Oration,  de- 
livered by  a  seaman,  on  that  day.  Among  the  audience, 
were  several  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  the  neighborhood. 

AN  ORATION, 

Delivered  by  permission,  on  board  the  JVassau  prison-shipf 
at  Chatham^  England^  by  an  Jlmerican  Seaman,  prisoner 
of  war,  ,._-,,^ 

MY    FELLOW    rRISONERS,    AND    BELOVED    COUNTRYMEN, 

We  are  assembled  to  commemorate  that  ever  memorable  Fourth  of  July, 
1776,  when  our  forefathers,  inspired  with  the  love  of  liberty,  dared  to  di- 
vest themselves  of  the  shackles  of  tyranny  and  oppression :  yes,  my  friend  s, 
on  that  important  day  these  stripes  were  hoisted  on  the  standard  of  liberty, 
as  a  signal  of  unity,  and  of  their  determination  to  fight  under  them,  unt  il 
America  was  numbered  among  the  nations  of  the  globe,  as  one  of  them,  91 
free  and  independent  nation.  Yes,  my  countrymen,  s!ie  was  determined 
to  spare  neither  blood  nor  treasure,  until  she  had  accomplished  the  grand 
object  of  her  intentions ;  an  object,  my  friends,  which  she  was  prompted 
by  Heaven  to  undertake,  and  inspired  by  all  that  honor,  justice,  and  patri- 
otism could  infuse  ;  her  armies  were  t'.en  in  the  field,  with  a  Washing* 


«    < 


116 


JOURNAL. 


•f';,     r 


f:^•■■'^a 


E  mm  ■ 


m- 


■■f!  -fe 


ii' 


fl   i; 


TON  at  their  head,  whose  upright  conduct  and  valorous  deeds  you  have 
often  heard  related,  and  the  memory  of  whom  should  be  held  sacred  in  the 
breasts  of  every  true-bom  Americao.— Let  his  heart  b«.4t  high  at  the  name 
of  Washington  I  Sacred  as  the  archives  of  heaven  I  fur  he  was  a  man  of 
truth,  honor,  and  integrity,  and  a  soldier  fostered  by  the  gods  to  be  the  sa« 
vioiir  of  his  country. 

The  struggle  was  long,  and  arduous ;  but  our  rallying  word  was,  **  Lib- 
erty  or  Death!"  Torrents  of  blood  were  spilt;  towns  and  villages  were 
burnt,  and  nothing  but  havoc,  devastation  and  destruction  was  seen  from 
one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other ;  and  this  was  not  all ;  but,  to  com- 
plete the  horrid  scene,  an  infernal  horde  of  savage  mur&erers  was  prompt- 
ed by  our  enemy  to  butcher  our  helpless  wives  and  children !  Then  did 
our  fathers'  patriotic  hearts  swell  in  their  bosoms,  and  they  were  ten-fold 
more  resolved  to  break  the  yoke  of  the  tyrant. 

I  recite  these  things,  my  countrymen,  that  you  may  know  how  to  prize 
your  liberty,  that  precious  gem  for  which  your  fathers  fought,  wading  in 
rivers  of  blood,  until  it  pleased  the  Almighty  to  crown  their  arms  with  suc- 
cess; and,  glorious  to  relate,  America  was  acknowledged  free  and  independ- 
ent by  all  the  powers  of  Europe.  Happy  period  !  then  did  our  warriors 
exult  in  what  they  had  so  nobly  achieved  ;  then  commerce  revived,  and  the 
thirteen  itripes  were  hoisted  upon  the  tall  masts  of  our  ships,  and  displayed 
from  pole  to  pole;  emigrants  flocked  from  many  parts  to  taste  our  free- 
dom, and  other  blessings  heaven  had  bestowed  upon  us  ;  our  population 
increased  to  an  incredible  degree ;  our  commerce  flourished,  and  our  coun- 
try has  been  the  seat  of  peace,  plenty  and  happiness  for  many  years.  At 
length  the  fatal  blast  reached  our  land !  America  was  obliged  to  unsheath 
the  sword  in  justification  of  her  violated  rights.  Our  ships  were  captured 
and  condemned  upon  frivolous  pretensions;  our  seamen  were  dragged 
from  their  lawful  employment;  they  were  torn  from  the  bosom  of  their 
beloved  country;  sons  from  their  fathers;  husbands  from  their  wives  and 
children,  to  serve  with  reluctance  for  many  years,  under  the  severity  of  a 
martial  law.  The  truth  of  this  many  of  you  can  attest  to,  perhaps  with  in- 
ward pining  end  a  bleeding  heart ! 

My  countrymen !  I  did  not  mount  this  rostrum  to  inveigh  against  the 
British ;  only  the  demagogues,  the  war-faction  I  exclaim  against.  We  all 
know,  and  that  full  well,  that  there  are  many  honest,  patriotic  men  in  this 
country,  who  would  raise  their  voices  to  succour  us,  and  their  arms  Coo, 
could  they  do  it  with  impunity.  The  sympathetic  hearts  of  the  good,  feel 
for  the  oppressed  in  all  climes.  And  now,  my  countrymen,  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  the  land  of  your  nativity  will  be  involved  in  war,  and 
deluged  in  blood  for  some  time  to  come ;  yes,  my  friends,  that  happy  coun- 
try',  which  is  the  guardian  of  everything  you  possess,  that  you  esteem,  near 
and  dear,  has  again  to  struggle  (or  her  liberty.  The  British  war-faction  are 
Tushingupon  us  withtheii  fleets  and  armies,  thinking,  perhaps,  to  crush  us 
in  a  moment.  Strange  infatuation !  They  have  forgotten  Bunker's  Hill  1 
'I'hey  have  forgotten  Saratoga,  and  Yorktown,  when  the  immortal  Wash- 
iNCTON  with  his  victorious  army  chased  them  through  the  Jerseys,  under 
:he  muzzles  of  their  ship's  cannon  for  protection  I  They  have  forgotten 
that  the  sons  of  America  have  as  good  blood  in  their  veins,  and  possess  as 
sound  limbs  and  nerves  as  they;  strange  infatuation!  I  repeat  it,  if  they 
presume  to  think  that  eight  millions  of  free  people  will  be  very  easily  di- 
vested of  their  liberty;  my  word  for  it,  they  will  not  give  up  at  the  sight 
of  their  men-of-war  or  their  red  coats ;  no,  my  friends,  they  will  meet  the 
Uds  who  will  play  them  the  tuxie  of  yaokee  doodle,  as  well  as  they  did  at 


JOURNAL. 


iiy 


Ltxington,  or  Bunker  Hill,  Besides,  my  countrymen,  there  is  a  plant  in 
that  country,  (very  little  of  which  grows  any  where  else,^  'he  infusion  of 
which  stimulates  the  true  sons  of  America  to  deeds  of  valour.  There  is 
something  so  fostering  in  the  very  sound  of  its  name,  that  it  holds  superior* 
ity  wherever  it  grows;  it  is  a  sacred  plant,  my  friends,  its  name  is  liber- 
TY,and  may  God  grant  that  that  plant  may  continue  to  grow  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  never  be  rooted  out  so  long  as  it  shall  please  Him  to 
continue  the  celestial  orb  to  roll  in  yon  azure  expanse. 

Ah  I  Britons!  Britons!  had  your  counsellors  been  just,  and  had  they  lis* 
tened  with  attention,  and  followed  the  advice  of  the  immorttlf^tV/ritn  Pittf 
Britain  and  America  might  have  been  one  until  the  present  hMi ;  and  they, 
united, in  time  might  have  given  laws  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  terrestrial  ball. 

Many  of  you,  my  friends,  have  voluntarily  embraced  this  loathsome  pris- 
on rather  th?n  betray  your  country;  for  by  the  laws  of  your  country,  to 
aid  or  give  any  assistance  to  an  enemy,  is  treason,  is  punishable  with  death. 
I  therefore  hope  that  your  country  will  reward  you  abuMdantly  for  your 
toil.  And  one  and  all  let  us  embrace  the  icy  arms  of  death,  rather  than 
cherish  theJeast  symptoms  of  an  inclination  to  betray  our  country.  Some 
have  done  it,  who  have  pretended  to  be  Americans,  .so  far  as  to  shield  them- 
selves under  the  name.  Whether  they  were  real  Americans  or  not,  is  hard 
for  me  to  say  ;  but  if  they  were,  they  have  put  their  hand  to  the  plough, 
and  not  only  looked  back,  but  have  gone  back.  I  have  not  the  least  doubt 
but  they  will  meet  their  reward ;  that  is,  they  will  be  spurned  at  by  those 
very  people  that  laid  the  bait  for  thens.  Such  characters  will  for  ever  be 
condemned,  and  held  in  detestation  by  both  parties.  Therefore  all  you 
who  feel  the  tide  of  true  American  blood  flow  through  your  hearts,  I  hope 
never  will  attempt  to  flee  from  the  allegiance  of  your  country.  It  is  cow- 
ardice, it  is  felony  ;  and  for  all  those  who  have  done  it,  we  may  pray  tiiat 
the  departed  spirits  of  their  fathers,  who  so  nobly  fought,  hied,  and  fell  in 
the  conflict  to  gain  them  their  liberty,  will  haunt  them  in  their  midnight 
slumbers,  and  that  they  may  feel  the  horrors  of  conscience  and  the  dread 
of  a  gallows  !  also,  that  they  may  have  no  rest,  but  like  the  dove  that  Noah 
sent  out  of  the  ark,  be  restless  until  they  return  to  the  allegiance  ot  their 
country.  And  now,  my  countrymen,  let  us  join  in  unison  to  correct  our 
own  morals;  let  us  be  sober,  let  us  be  vigilant  over  ourselves  while  in  this 
situation.  And  although  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  assist  our  countrymen 
in  the  present  conflict,  yet  if  we  are  good  the  power  of  Heaven  will  Bght 
for  us  ;  for  the  good  must  merit  Cod's  peculiar  care.  The  powers  of  Hea- 
ven  fought  for  us  ;  they  assisted  us  to  gain  our  liberty,  it  is  evident  from 
the  very  circumstance,  that  in  our  struggle  with  Great  Britain  for  our  lib- 
erty, we  had  no  navy,  or  none  of  any  consequence,  yet  Great  Britain  lost 
more  line  of  battle  ships  in  that  war  than  she  did  with  France,  although 
France  is  a  great  naval  power.  And  we  should  be  ihankful  to  God  for  all 
the  blessings  he  hath  bestowed  upon  us  from  time  to  time,  and  in  particu- 
lar for  the  blessings  of  that  unity  which  wc  are  recently  informed  prevails 
among  our  countrymen  in  America ;  united  they  stand,  nor  will  the  pow- 
ers of  hell  be  ablelo  overthrow  them.  And  now  let  us  appeal  to  the  God 
of  Sabaoth,  that  is,  the  God  of  armies-^-let  us  appeal  to  Him  who  holdii  the 
balance,  and  weighs  the  events  of  battles  and  of  realms,  and  by  his  decision 
we  must  abide.  And  may  He  grant  us  htalth,  peace  and  unity  in  this  our 
disagreeable  situation ;  and  let  us  all  join  in  concord  to  praise  the  Ruler 
and  Governor  of  the  universe.     Amen,    Amen. 

*  The  celebrated  Earl  of  Chatham. 
10* 


(    ! 


rll 


I'  I-  \ ) 


i' , 

'  mi 


tf!,    M 


I       t 


118 


JOURNAL. 


^'&mi 


?!j.i      ■    ■■:■• 


:  ■  'l  i':. 


N:,»il 


Among  the  songs  sung  on  this  occasion,  were  several 
composed  by  seafaring  people,  in  our  own  country.  The 
following  drew  tears  from  the  eyes  of  our  generous  heart- 
ed sailors.  It  pathetically  describes  what  many  of  them 
had  experienced,  the  impressment  of  an  American  sailor 
boy,  by  a  British  man  of  war,  the  tearing  up  of  his  legal 
protection,  and  of  his  sinking  under  a  broken  heart.  It 
was  written  by  Mr.  John  De  Wolfed  of  Rhode  Island. 

.- •i^'-sJ/3p|l(i  tilt;. Si.  4  ■-:•■'-  ••  V    ...•■-■    c  .- 

The  Impressment  of  an  American  Sailor  Boy, 

A  SONG, 

Sung  on  board  the  British  prison'^iip,  Crown  Prince^  the 
Fuurth  of  July,  1813,  by  a  number  of  tha  American 
prisoners. 

The  youthful  Sailor  mounts  the  bark. 

And  bids  each  weeping  friend  adieu  ; 
Pair  blows  the  gale,  the  canvass  swells; 

Slow  sink,   the  uplands  from  his  view. 

Three  mornings,  from  his  ocean  bed, 
.    Resplendent  beams  the  God  of  day  ; 
The  fourth,  high  looming  in  the  mist, 
A  war-ship's  floating  banners  play. 

Her  yawl  is  launch'd  ;  light  o'er  the  deep, 

Too  kind,  she  wafts  a  ruffian  band  ; 
Her  blue  track  lengthens  to  the  bark. 

And  soon  on  deck  the  miscreants  stand; 

Around  they  throw  the  baleful  glance  ; 

Suspense  holds  mute  the  anxious  crew-— 
Who  is  their  prey  ? — poor  sailor  boy  I 

The  baleful  glance  is  fix'd  on  you. 

Nay,  why  that  useless  scrip  unfold  f 

They  damn  the  «' lyin^ yankte  scrawl" 
Torn  from  thine  hand,  it  strews  the  wave. 

They  force  thee,  trembling,  to  the  yawl. 

Siok  was  thine  heart,  as  from  the  deck, 
"  The  hand  of  friendship  wav'd  farewell } 
Mad  was  thy  brain,  as,  lar  behind,   - 
In  the  grey  mist,  thy  vessel  fell.    , 

One  hope,  yet,  to  thy  bosom  clung,  ■' 

The  captain  mercy  might  impart ; 
Vain  was  that  hope,  which  bade  thee  IjDok 

For  meicy  in  a  Pirate's  heart. 


JOURNAL. 


119 


What  woes  can  man  on  man  inflict, 

When  malice  joins  with  uncheck'd  pow'r  J 
Such  woes,  unpicied  and  unknown, 
For  many  a  month,  the  sailor  bore. 

Oft  gem'd  his  eye  the  bursting  tear, 
As  mem'ry  linger'd  on  past  joy  ; 

As  oft  they  flung  the  cruel  jeer, 
And  damn'd  the  '•  chicken-liver'd  boy.** 

When  sick  at  heart,  with  "  hope  deferr'd," 
Kind  sleep  his  wasting  form  embrac'd, 

Some  ready  minion  ply'd  the  lash, 
And  the  lov'd  dream  of  freedom  chac'd* 

Fast  to  an  end  his  miseries  drew  ; 

The  deadly  hectic  flush'd  his  cheek  ; 
On  his  pale  brow  the  cold  dew  hung, 

He  sigh'd,  and  sunk  upon  the  deck  ! 

The  sailor's  woes  drew  forth  no  sigh  ; 
No  hand  would  close  the  sailor's  eye  ; 
Remorseless,  his  pale  corps  they  gave, 
Unshrouded,  to  the  friendly  wave. 

And,  as  he  sunk  beneath  the  tide, 

A  hellish  shout  arose  ; 
Exultingly  the  demons  cried, 

♦'  So  fare  all  Albion's  tmtLfoa  l** 


':S 


fi  '1 


:ym 


The  power  of  music  and  of  song,  on  such  occasions, 
has  been  witnessed  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  especially  in 
the  youthful,  or  chivalrie  period  of  a  nation's  existence, 
M-hich  is  the  present  time,  in  the  history  of  the  j^Tnited 
States.  We  all  have  felt  and  witnessed  the  animating  ef- 
fects of  the  simple  national  tune  of  Yankea  Doodle.  Our 
New  England  boys  cannot  stand  still  when  it  is  played. 
To  that  tune  our  regiments  march  with  an  energy  that  no 
other  music  inspires.  At  its  sound,  the  sentinel  on  his 
post  shoulders  his  musket,  and  marches  his  limits  with  a 
smartness,  that  shows  that  his  brave  heart  pulsates  to  tho 
warlike  drum.  Such  a  people,  thus  animated  and  united, 
is  absolutely  invincible,  by  all  the  powers  of  Europe  com- 
bined. 

Time,  situation  and  circumstances,  will  give  us  national 
fongs.  Many  ages  passed  away,  before  England  was  ani- 
mated by  a  national  hymn.  The  Americans  have  paro- 
died this  hymD;  substituting,  "  God  save  great  Washin^ 
tonV*  &c. 


S^ 


,  I 


I*  ■  • 


i20 


J»U*NAL. 


'^4.|^^i' 


:  I, ^ 


l  'i'-      :■■•■ 


i.l,    :   '•  "111'! 


!!■■ 


"lir 


11    '■'«l 


n 


Our  orator,  considerint;  where  he  was,  and  that  he  had 
an  hundred  British  hearers,  used  pretty  harsh  language. 
lie  apostrophised  the  English  thus  ;  **  Haughty  nation  ! 
with  one  hand  thou  art  deluding  and  dividing  thy  victims 
in  New  England,  and  with  the  other,  thou  bearest  the 
weapon  of  vengeance ;  and  while  employing  the  ruthful 
savage,  with  his  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  thou  art 
boasting  of  thy  humanity,  thy  magnanimity,  and  thy  reli- 
giou  !  Bloody  villains  !  detestable  associates  !  linked  to- 
gether by  fear,  and  leagued  with  savages  by  necessity,  to 
murder  a  christian  people,  for  the  alledged  crime  of  fight- 
ing over  again  the  battle  of  independence.  Beware,  bloody 
nations  of  Britons  and  savage  Indians,  of  the  recoiling 
vengeance  of  a  brave  people.  For  shame — talk  no  more 
of  your  Christianity,  of  your  bible  and  missionary  societies, 
when  your  only  aim  is  to  direct  the  scalping  knife,  and 
give  force  to  the  arm  of  the  savage.  No  longer  express 
the  smile  of  pleasure,  on  bearing  a  stupid  Governor  pro- 
claim you  to  be  '*  The  Bulwark  of  our  Religion  /"  You 
have  filled  India  with  blood  and  ashes  ;  you  have  murder- 
ed the  Irish  for  contending  for  liberty  of  conscience  ;  you 
continue  the  scourge  of  war  in  Spain  ;  you  pay  Russia, 
Sweden,  Germany  and  Holland,  the  price  of  blood  ;  and  te 
erown  all,  decorate  your  colors,  and  your  seats  of  legisla- 
tion, with  scalps,  torn  from  Americans,  male  and  female  ; 
and  you  are  sowing  discord,  and  diffusing  a  Jacobinical 
spirit  through  a  pretestant  country,  which  you  cannot  con- 
quer by  force.  But,  (continued  the  orator,  waving  his  sin- 
ewy arm,  and  hard  and  heavy  hand,)  the  time  is  not  far  dis- 
tant, when  your  guilty  nation  will  be  duly  appreciated,  and 
justly  punished  ;"  and  saying  this,  he  drove  his  iron  fist 
into  the  palm  of  his  left  hand,  and  stamped  with  his  foot 
on  the  capstan,  where  he  stood,  while  his  admiring  coun- 
trymen rewarded  the  herculean  orator  with  three  cheers. 

There  is  no  disguising  it.  these  Englishmen  not  only  re- 
spect us,  but  fear  us  They  perceive  a  mighty  difference 
between  us,  and  the  cringing,  gambling  Frenchmen.  If 
they  are  tolerably  well  informed,  and  think  at  all,  they 
must  conclude  that  we  Yankees,  are  filled  with,  and  keep 
up  that  bold  and  daring  spirit  of  liberty,  which  made  Eng- 
land what  she  is,  and  the  loss  of  which  is  now  perceived  by 
their  surrendered  ships  and  beaten  armies  in  America. 
All  these  things  will  hereafter  be  detailed  by  sone  future 


JOURNAL. 


in 


Gibbon,  in  the  history  of  the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Brit- 
ish Empire. 

We  closed  the  daj,  on  this  memorable  fourth  of  July> 
pretty  much  as  we  began  it ;  we  struck  our  flag  at  sun  set 
and  saluted  the  other  ships  with  three  hearty  cheers. 
Throughout  the  whole,  the  prisoners,  even  to  the  boys,  be- 
haved with  becoming  decorum,  and  the  whole  was  con- 
eluded  without  any  disagreeable  accident,  or  any  thing  like 
a  quarrel ;  and  in  saying  this,  we  desire  to  acknowledge 
the  extraordinary  good  behaviour  of  all  the  British  officers 
and  men  on  board  the  Crown  Prince. 

Excepting  the  apprehensions  of  being  sent  off  to  Dart- 
moor prison,  of  which  yye  entertained  horrid  ideas,  we 
were  tolerably  happy.  After  the  measles  ceased,  we 
were  all  very  healthy ;  and  there  exists  a  good  under- 
standing between  the  prisoners  and  our  commander,  Os- 
more ;  which  they  say,  is  owing  to  the  influence  of  his 
amiable  wife.  This  worthy  woman  has  discovered  that 
we  are  not  a  gang  of  vagabonds,  but  that  many  of  the 
American  prisoners  are  not  only  men  of  solid  understand- 
ing, and  correc:t  principles,  but  men  whose  minds  have 
been  improved  by  good  education.  The  manner  and  style 
in  which  we  celebrated  our  national  independence,  have 
created  a  respect  for  us.  The  oflieers  extend  a  better 
course  of  treatment  towards  us,  and  this  has  occasioned 
our  treating  them  with  more  respect.  Politeness  gener- 
ates politeness,  and  insult,  insult.  They  find  that  coax- 
ing and  fair  words  is  the  only  way  to  manage  Americans. 

There  is  a  set  of  busy-idlers  among  us,  a  sort  of  news- 
mongers, fault-finders,  and  predictors,  who  are  continual- 
ly bothering*  us  with  .unsubstantial  rumors.  The  news- 
papers we  take,  are  enough  to  confound  any  man ;  but 
these  creatures  are  worse  than  the  London  news-writers. 
Sometimes  we  are  told  that  Baltimore  is  burnt ;  and  then 
that  New-York  is  taken  ;  and  we  have  been  positively 
assured  that  old  New-England  has  declared  for  the  Brit- 
ish ;  and  that  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  and  his 
council  had  dined  on  board  a  British  man  of  war  in  Bos- 
ton harbor;  and  that  president  Madison  had  been  hanged 
in  ctfigy  in  Boston,  Newburyport,  and  Portsmouth.  At 
other  times  we  were  told  positively,  and  circumstantially, 

*An  Irish  word,  tn^jning  a  distra£lion  of  attention  by  reason  of  words 
Striking  our  intclkft  through  ^o/A  ^arj  confusedly. 


•t.!  'i 


■     I      !  ' 


*        I 


i22 


JOURNAL. 


»■  '1 


\'.*^'- 


(hat  three  frigates  sent  their  boats  into  Marbleliead,  anil 
after  driving  out  all  the  \vomen  and  c)iildren,  set  iire  to 
the  town,  and  reduced)  the  whole  to  ashes ;  and  this  was 
for  some  time  credited.  We  have  a  number  of  fine  Mar* 
blehead  men  here  in  captivity,  ali  staunch  friends  of  their 
country's  cause.  I  well  remember  since  that  period,  tbat 
it  was  told  us,  that  peace  between  America  and  England 
was  concluded,  and  that  one  of  its  conditions  was  giving 
lip  the  fisheries  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland.  This 
alarmed  the  M arblehead  men  more  than  the  report  of  burn- 
ing their  town  ;  they  raved  and  swore  like  mad  men.  "  If 
that  be  the  ca^se^"  said  they,  <*  1  am  damned — Marblehead 
is  forever  damned,  and  we  are  all  damned ;  and  damnation 
seize  the  peace-makers,  who  have  consented  to  this  con- 
dition." On  this  subject  they  worked  themselves  into  a 
fever,  and  were  very  unhappy  all  the  time  the  story  was 
believed.  Such  like  stories  were  told  to  us,  oft  times,  so 
circumstantially,  that  we  all  believed  them.  When  dis> 
covered  to  be  false,  they  were  called  galley-news  or  galley 
packets.  These  mischievous  characters  are  continually 
sporting  with  our  feelings,  and  secretly  laughing  at  the 
uneasiness  they  occasion.  There  is  one  man  who  has  got 
the  name  of  lying  Boh;  who  iq  remarkable  for  the  fertili- 
ty of  his  invention  ;  there  is  fio  much  apparent  correctness 
in  all  he  advances.  Ho  mentions  and  describes  the  man 
who  informed  him,  states  little  particulars,  and  relates 
circumstances  so  closely  connected  with  acknowledged 
facts,  that  the  most  cautious  and  incredulous  are  often  tak- 
en in  by  him.  He  is  a  constitutional  liar,  and  the  fellow 
has  such  a  plausible  mode  of  lying,  and  wears  throughout 
such  a  fixed  and  solemn  phiz,  that  his  news  has  been  cir- 
culated by  us  all,  with  all  our  wise  reasons,  and  explana- 
tions, and  conjectures,  that  although  we  are  sometimes 
angry  enough  to  knock  his  brains  out,  we  cannot  help 
laughing  at  the  hoax.  To  the  name  of  lying  Bob,  we 
have  added  that  of  "  Printer  to  Prince  lielzebub^s  Royal 
Gazette." 

Tbis  little  community  of  ours,  crowded  within  the 
planks  of  a  single  ship,  is  but  the  prototype  of  the  great 
dommunities  on  the  land.  Here  we  see  working,  all  those 
passions,  hopes,  fears,  emulations,  envies,  and  even  con- 
tentions for  distinction,  which,  like  the  winds  and  tides  of 
the  ocean;  keep  the  human  mind  healthy,  vigorous,  and 


JOURNAL. 


158 


proj^rensinj^  to  general  benefit.  Amidst  it  ajl,  we  eould 
discover  "  the  ruling  passion,"  the  love  of  country,  and  a 
firm  belief  that  our  countrymen  understood  rational  liber- 
ty better,  and  could  defend  it  longer,  than  any  nation  now 
Til  existence. 

Many  people  are  beguiled  with  an  idea,  that  sailors 
have  no  serious  thoughts  of  religion,  because  they  use 
swearing,  and,  too  often,  a  profane  phraseology,  without 
any  meaning.  But  seamen  generally  have  as  serious 
ideas  of  religion,  as  landsmen ;  and  are,  in  my  opinion, 
full  as  good.  Hypocrisy  is  not  among  their  vices.  They 
never  pretend  to  more  religion  than  their  conduct  pro- 
claims. You  see  and  hear  the  worse  of  them,  and  that 
cannot  always  be  said  of  our  brethren  on  shore.  We  have 
had  a  methodist  preacher  exhorting  ns  twice  a  week,  until 
lately;  but  he  has  discontinued  his  visits;  for  he  found 
the  hearts  of  some  of  our  fellows  as  hard  as  their  faces, 
and  he  relinquished  the  hope  of  their  conversion  to  meth- 
odism.  There  was,  at  one  time,  on  board  our  ship,  a  lit- 
tle, ugly  French  surgeon's  mate,  who  had  lived  several 
years  in  London,  and  in  the  southern  part  of  America.  He 
could  speak  and  read  the  English  language  equally  well 
with  his  ou-n.  He  ridiculed  all  religion,  and  talked  in 
such  an  irreverent  style  of  the  bible,  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  that  our  sailors  would  not  associate 
with  him,  nor,  at  times,  to  eat  with  him.  On  one  occasion 
his  profanity  was  so  shocking,  that  he  ran  some  risk  of  be- 
ing thrown  overboard.  He  was  a  witty,  comical  fellow, 
and  they  would  listen  and  laugh  at  his  drollery  ;  but  they 
finally  stopped  his  mouth  from  uttering  things,  for  which 
he  would  be  severely  punished  in  England  and  in  America. 

Generally  speaking,  in  the  religious  notions  of  our  sail- 
ors, there  is  mixed  a  portion  of  that  superstition  which  we, 
our  forefathers,  and  foremotbers  brought  with  them  from 
England,  Seotland  and  Ireland.  They  believe,  for  exam- 
ple, in  spirits,  or  ghosts,  and  that  they  haunt  houses  and 
ships  ;  and  that  they  have  sometimes  appeared  with  hor- 
rid visage  and  menacing  countenances,  at  the  bed-side  of 
a  cruel  captain  :  and  above  all,  to  the  false  hearted  Tar, 
Nvho  cruelly  deserted  his  too  credulous  Poll,  who  drowned 
herself  in  despair.  The  common  sailor  often  tells  such 
stories,  and  sings  them  in  ballads,  both  which  are  gener- 
ally ended  with  the  good  moral  sentiment  of  the  punish- 


•:    ':*!|| 


-,     ■   t,    I     I 


m 


4  \ 


124 


JOURNAL. 


'■l^'ith   'i 


meiit  of  cruelty  and  treachery,  and  the  reward  of  the  kind 
hearted  and  humane. 

It  may  appear  singular  that  men  whose  conduct  is  gen« 
erally  so  opposite  to  the  prescribed  rules  of  the  Priest, 
should  have  so  firm  an  opinion  of  another  life,  after  their 
hodies  are  eaten  up  by  sharks,  or  blown  to  atoms  ;  but  it 
is  really  the  case  with  the  British  and  American  sailors, 
for  they  have  the  strongest  belief  in  the  existence  of  spi- 
rits, and  all  their  stories  and  traditions  tend  to  confirm 
thi.s  superstition.  How  often  have  1  known  them  huddled 
together  in  the  night,  telling  stories  of  feats  of  danger 
and  desperation!  a  ghost  or  spirit  il  generally  brought  in- 
to the  history.  Nothing  suits  these  daring  set  of  men 
better  than  a  solemn  narrative  of  a  supernatural  achieve- 
ment, and  a  supernatural  escape  ;  but  to  be  charming,  it 
mast  have  a  tinge  of  the  horrible.  Shakespeare  would 
Lave  recognized  some  of  these  men  as  his  kindred,  and 
they  him  as  a  relation.  Good  luck  and  ill  luck,  lucky 
days  and  unlucky  days,  as  well  as  lucky  ships,  attach 
themselves  to  a  sailor's  mind.  A  remarkable  instance  of 
this  we  have  in  our  ill  fated  frigate  Chesapeake.  Ever 
since  the  British  ship.  Leopard,  fired  into  this  American 
frigate,  in  a  period  of  profound  peace,  and  caused  her  to 
strike  her  colors,  and  which  led  to  her  being  boarded  ; 
and  her  men  to  be  mustered  by  compulsion,  and  some  of 
her  crew  taken  and  carried  forcibly  onboard  the  Leop- 
ard, one  of  which  was  afterwards  hanged  ^  after  this  deep 
M^ound  on  our  country's  honor,  this  frigate  was  ever  after 
▼iewed  as  unlucky. 

In  confirmation  of  this  nautical  (Mirse,  she  met  with  a 
series  of  disasters  during  the  war,  which  were  not  attrib- 
uted to  ill  management,  but  to  ill  luck.  Thus,  one  time 
she  was  coming  up  the  harbor  of  Boston,  from  a  cruise, 
IV here  she  lost  spar  after  spar,  and  topmast  after  topmast ; 
and  when  in  full  sight  of  the  town,  and  not  much  wind, 
over  board  went  her  fore-top-mast,  and  several  men  were 
drowned  in  their  fall  from  the  rigging.  This  was  not 
attributed  to  lack  of  judgment,  but  to  ill  luck.  When 
this  ill-omened  ship  lay  in  Boston  harbor,  previous  to  her 
last  and  ^atai  cruise,  she  could  not  get  men,  and  that  from 
the  impression  on  the  minds  of  sailors,  that  she  was  an 
unlucky  ship.  This  operated  to  her  final  misfortune,  for 
her  crew  was  mftde  up  of  every  thing  that  offered.    Her 


JOURNAL. 


126 


captain  was  a  strant^er  to  his  crevr,  and  to  his  oflieers  ; 
his  first  lieutenant  lay  at  the  point  of  death  when  she 
sailed  ;  her  motley  crew  mutinied,  on  account  of  their  pay, 
before  they  weighed  anchor  ;  her  brave,  I  had  like  to 
have  said  rash  commander,  sailed  out  in  a  great  hurry  ; 
her  cables  were  not  quite  stowed  away,  nor  other  things 
arranged  in  their  places,  when  she  bore  down  on  the  cool 
and  orderly  Shannon  ;  and  to  crown  all,  her  intrepid  com- 
mander, a  man  six  feet,  four  inches,  went  into  action  with- 
in half  pistol  bhot,  in  full  uniform,  as  if  he  defied  the  pow- 
er of  the  British  musketry.  I  have  conversed  wi<h  some 
of  her  officers  and  men  in  my  captivity,  and  think  that  I 
am  warranted  in  saying  that  there  was  much  more  high- 
toned  bravery  exhibited  on  that  day,  than  good  conduct. 
The  sailors,  however,  think  diiferently ;  they  all  attrib- 
ute it  to  that  unavoidable  fatality  which  forever  adheres, 
like  pitch,  to  an  unlucky  ship.     O,  my  country  ! 

*'  It  was  that  fatal  and  perBdious  bark, 

**  Builr  in  th'  eclipse,  aad  rigg'd  with  curses  dark, 

*'  That  sunk  so  low  that  sacred  head  of  thine  [" 

Milton's  Lycioas. 


'>! 


<i  :■ 


CHAPTER  II. 


•August  30^A.-— Drafts  continue  to  be  made  from  this 
ship  to  be  sent  off  to  Dartmoor  Prison.  There  are  but 
few  of  us  remaining,  and  we  are  every  day  in  expectation 
of  removal.  All  go  off  with  evident  reluctance,  from  aa 
apprehension  that  the  change  will  be  for  the  worse.  It  is 
the  *'  untried  scene,"  that  fills  us  with  anxiety.  We  are 
mure  disposed  to  bear  our  present  ills,  than  fly  to  others 
^vhich  we  know  not  of. 

Oh,  how  we  envy  the  meanest  looking  wretch  we  see, 
crawling  on  the  shore,  gathering  sticks  to  cook  his  fi«h. 
There  the  beggar  enjoys  the  natural  inheritance  of  man, 
sweet  Liberty  ;  if  the  unfeeling,  the  avaricious  and  mo- 
rose, refuse  his  petition,  he  can  sweeten  the  disappoint- 
ment with  the  reflection  that  he  has  liberty  to  walk  where 
he  pleases.  He  is  not  shot  up  in  the  prime  of  life,  aikd 
11 


1!'  ■ 

i|  ■  (Mi 

I'fi: 


1  4  ,-  J      : 


I  Jill 


126 


JOURNAL 


B 


Li  td,\m<yB 


.♦ill 


l«: 


cut  off  from  all  intercourse  with  those  he  holds  most  dear : 
he  is  not  lingering  out  bis  life  and  liealtli  under  the  mo- 
rose countenance  of  an  unfeeling  jailor.  He  lias  not,  like 
us,  a  home,  where  peace,  plenty  and  every  good,  await  to 
welcome  us.  Who  can  express  the  anguish  felt  by  some 
of  us,  wretched  prisoners,  here  crowded  together,  like 
sheep,  men  who  have  broken  no  law  of  either  country, 
but  who  have  stood  courageously  forth  in  supporting  the 
sacred  cause  of  our  country,  and  in  defending  '•^  free  trade 
and  sailors^  rights.*^  Should  this  war  continue  some  years 
longer,  or  should  peace  be  restored,  and  another  war  with 
Britain  commence,  I  will  venture  to  predict  that  our  ene- 
mies will  take  but  few  prisoners  alive.  My  own  mind  is 
entirely  made  up  on  this  head.  I  hope  to  stand  ever  ready 
to  risk  my  life  for  the  liberty  and  fndependence  of  our 
nution,  and  for  the  preservation  of  my  own  personal  lib- 
erty. 

The  American  sailor  has  a  beloved  home;  he  was  born 
and  brought  up  in  a  house  that  had  a  *<  fire  place'*  in  it. 
Many  of  them  here,  in  captivity,  have  wives  and  children, 
most  of  them  have  parents,  and  brothers  and  sisters. 
These  poor  fellows  partake,  at  times,  the  misery  of  their 
dear  relatives,  at  three  thousand  miles  distance.  They 
recollect  their  a^^ed  mothers,  and  deorepid  fathers,  worn 
down  with  age,  labor,  and  anxious  thoughts  for  the  wel- 
fare of  their  absent  sons  Some  have  wives,  and  little 
children,  weeping  for  their  absent  husbands,  and  suffering 
for  the  good  and  comfortable  things  of  this  life,  having 
none  to  help  them.  In  families,  neighborhoods,  and  villa- 
ges, men  are  supported  by  leaning  on  each  other  ;  or  by 
supporting  each  olher  ;  and  we  have  endeavored  to  do  so 
too  ;  but  now  our  numbers  are  thinning,  some  of  our  best, 
our  steadiest,  and  most  prudent  men,  have  left  us,  and 
gone  to  Dartmoor  Prison.  I  have  felt  very  low  spirited 
for  some  days  past.  It  is  true,  our  numbers  are  now  so 
few,  that  we  can  run  about,  and  beguile  the  tedious  hours 
hy  a  greater  variety  of  exercise  and  amusement  than  here- 
tofore ;  but  then,  our  soberest  men  are  gone,  and  left  be- 
hind some  of  the  most  noisy  and  disorderly  of  our  whole 
crew  ;  and  young  as  I  am,  I  am  little  disposed  to  make  a 
riot  or  noise,  merely  for  noise  sake. 

A  disturbance  took  place  last  night,  which  deprived  all 
of  us  of  sleep.    It  was  owing  to  the  unaccommodating 


JOURliJAL. 


127 


nost  dear ; 
«?r  the  mo- 
8  not,  like 
h  await  to 
H  by  some 
Iher,  Jike 
r  country, 
arting  the 
free  trade 
ome  years 
war  with 
t  our  ene- 
11  mind  is 
ver  ready 
ce  oi*  our 
sonal  lib- 
was  born 
ce"  in  it. 
children, 
[1  sisters, 
of  their 
>.     TJiey 
rs,  worn 
the  wel- 
nd  Jittle 
suffering 
having* 
nd  villa- 
5  or  by 
to  do  so 
ur  best, 
ns,  and 
spirited 
now  so 
s  hours 
n  here- 
left  be- 
■  whole 
nake  a 

k-ed  all 
:lati  ng» 


disposition  of  onr  commander,  Mr.  Osmore.  About  thirty 
prisoners  were  selected,  and  called  aft,  with  their  ham- 
mocks all  tied  up,  lo  be  ready  to  go  off  early  in  the  morn- 
in  a  tender.     The  tender  did  not  arrive  as  was  ex- 


ins 


S' 


pecfed  ;  the  sergeant  was  ordered  to  count  us  over  in  the 
evening,  to  go  to  rest,  whereupon  the  thirty  drafted  men 
went  aft,  and  requested  their  hammocks  to  sleep  in  ;  Mr. 
Osmore  replied,  that,  as  they  were  (o  go  off  early  in  the 
morning,  they  would  only  detain  the  tender,  if  they  had 
their  hammocks  to  take  down  and  pack  up  again,  on  which 
account  he  refused  to  let  them  have  their  usual  accommo- 
dations for  sleeping.  The  men  went  below,  very  much 
dissatisfied  at  the  churlish  disposition  of  the  commander; 
and  as  they  despaired  being  able  to  sleep  themselves,  on 
bare  boards,  they  all  determined  that  Osmore  should  not 
sleep.  They  waited  quietly  till  about  ten  o'clock,  when 
the  commander  usually  went  to  bed,  and  then  they  tore 
up  the  large  oak  benches,  tied  ropes  to  them,  and  run  with 
them  round  the  deck,  drawing  the  benches  after  them  like 
a  sled,  at  the  same  time  hollowing,  screaming  and  yelling, 
and  making  every  noise  that  their  ingenuity  or  malice 
could  devise.  Sometimes  they  drove  these  oaken  benches 
full  but  against  the  aft  bulk  head,  so  as  to  make  the  ship 
tremble  again  with  the  noise,  like  cannon.  They  jammed 
down  the  crockery  belonging  to  the  marines,  which  was 
set  up  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  cock -pit,  and  frightened 
their  wives  out  of  their  beds.  The  noise  and  jarring  were 
so  great,  that  it  seemed  as  if  they  were  breaking  up  the 
ship,  for  the  sake  of  her  iron  work.  Lieut.  Osmore  sent 
a  marine  down,  to  order  them  to  be  still  and  go  to  sleep. 
They  replied,  that  they  had  no  conveniences  for  sleeping, 
and  that  Osmore  had  acted  like  a  villain,  in  depriving 
them  unnecessarily  of  their  hammocks,  for  which  brutal- 
ity^  ^bcy  were  determined  that  he  should  not  sleep  any 
more  than  they.  After  which  they  recommenced  their 
riot  and  thundering  noise,  which  brought  Osmore  out  of 
his  cabin,  and  called  one  of  the  committee  to  him,  and 
told  him  to  tell  the  men,  that  if  they  did  not  directly  cease 
their  noise,  he  would  confine  every  man  of  them  below,  for 
three  days.  The  committee  man  replied,  that  nothing 
could  then  be  done,  for  that  the  mob  had  fairly  capsized 
the  government  of  the  ship,  and  all  that  he  could  suy, 
Mould  only  add  to  the  riot  and  confusion.    <<  Then,"  said 


S      l,:i*N 


:i:vi.i 


;■  ••• 


v.-i  )f' 


.  ,.*.i 


i;'j»r'^l1i 


h|^::*o 


1^9 


i^ 


JOURNAL. 


ho,  "  I'll  be  d — d  if  I  ilo  not  fire  upon  them."  Some  of 
the  mob  answereil,  "  fire,  and  be  d— -d."  And  the  com* 
mandur  hesitated  a  moment,  and  returned  to  his  cabin  ; 
for  he  saw  the  men  were  wrought  up  to  the  battle  pitch, 
and  rather  tv  Lshed  him  to  fire,  by  way  of  excuse  for  their 
attack  upon  him  whom  they  most  cordially  despised. 

Directly  upon  this,  they  collected  all  the  tin  and  cop- 
per pans,  pots  and  kettles,  and  every  sonorous  metallic 
substance  they  could  lay  their  hands  on.  These  they  tied 
together,  and  hitched  bunches  of  them  here  and  there,  up- 
on the  oaken  plunks  ;  and  then,  what  with  screaming, 
yelling,  like  the  Indian  war-whoop,  cheering,  and  the  thun- 
dering noise  of  the  plunks,  grating  along  the  deck,  to- 
gether with  the  ringing  and  clattering  of  their  metallic 
Tessels,  they  made  altogether  such  a  hideous  <<  rattle- 
come-twang,"  that  it  was  enough  to  raise  all  Chatham. 
All  this  was  transacted  in  utter  darkness.  The  officers 
doubtless  saw  that  bloodshed  and  promiscuous  death  would 
he  the  consequence  of  firing  among  the  rioters,  and  pru- 
dently left  it  to  subside  with  the  darkness  of  the  night. 
These  disorderly  fellows  would  go  round  the  decks  twiee.« 
with  all  this  thundering  noise  and  clatter,  and  then  be  si- 
lent for  about  half  an  hour,  or  until  they  thought  Mr. 
Osmore  had  got  into  a  doze  ;  and  then  they  would  recom- 
mence their  horrible  serenade.  At  length  Oi$niore  became 
so  enraged,  that  he  swore  by  his  Maker,  that  he  would 
order  every  marine  in  the  ship  to  fire  in  among  them  $ 
hut  on  some  of  the  committee  observing  to  him  that  he 
would  be  as  likely  to  kill  the  innocent  as  the  guilty,  and 
as  tliey  were  then  silent,  he  went  off  again  to  his  cabin  ; 
but  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  they  began  again  their 
shocking  serenade,  and  continued  it,  at  provoking  inter- 
Tals,  all  the  night,  so  that  none  could  sleep  in  the  ship. 

In  the  morning  the  tender  came  along  side,  and  they 
all  went  on  boartl  of  her.  When  (hey  had  all  got  in,  and 
pushed  off  from  the  ship^s  side,  and  while  Osmore  was  su- 
perintending their  departure,  they  all  cried  out,  baa  J 
bna  !  baa  !  until  they  got  out  of  hearing.  The  next  day 
he  betrayed  a  disposition  to  punish,  in  some  way,  those 
prisoners  that  remained  ;  but  it  was  remarked  to  him, 
that  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  any  of  them  to  stop 
the  riot,  or  to  keep  their  disturbers  quiet,  and  that 
they,  themselves,  were  equally  incommoded  with  him  aid 


JOURXAZi. 


±99 


Some  of 
J  the  com* 
bis  cabin  ; 
ttJe  pitch) 
5  for  their 
ised. 
and  cop. 
metallic 
they  tied 
there,  up- 
ireamin^^, 
the  thu'n- 
deck,  to- 
metanic 
"  rattle- 
Chatham, 
e  officers 
th  would 
[and  pru- 
ne night. 
|k«  twice* 
len  be  sl- 
ight Mr. 
d  recom- 
i  became 
B  would 
!?  them  5 
that  he 
Ity,  and 
cabin  ; 
in  their 
5  inter- 
ship. 
n4  ther 
in,  and 
v&s  su- 
t,  baa  J 
xf  day 
>  those 
n  him, 

0  stop 

1  that 
m  aid 


liis  family,  he  prudently  dropped  the  desit^n.  AlthougU 
many  of  us  disapproveci  of  this  behaviour  of  the  men,  none 
of  us  could  help  laughing  at  the  noise,  and  its  ludicrous 
elt*eets.  It  is  a  fact,  that  the  officers  and  marines  of  the 
Crown  Prince  prison  ship,  were  more  afraid  of  the  Amer- 
ican prisoners,  than  they  were  of  them.  This  last  frolic 
absolutely  cowed  them.  One  of  the  officers  said  to  me, 
next  day,  *^  Your  countrymen  do  not  seem  to  be  a  bloody 
minded  set  of  men,  like  the  Portuguese  and  Spaniards, 
but  they  have  the  most  d — d  provoking  impudence  I  ever 
saw,  in  any  men  :  if  they  did  not  accompany  it  all  with 
peals  of  laughter,  and  in  the  spirit  of  fun,  I  should  put 
them  down  as  a  set  of  hell-hounds."  1  told  him  that  I 
considered  the  last  night's  riot,  not  in  the  light  of  a  muti- 
ny, or  a  serious  attempt  to  wound  or  scratch  any  man,  but 
as  ti  high  frolic,  without  any  real  malice,  and  was  an  evi- 
dence of  that  boisterous  liberty  in  which  they  had  been 
bred  up,  and  arising  also  from  their  high  notions  of  right 
and  wrong.  To  which  the  worthy  Scotchman  replied,  '^  I 
hate  a  Frenchman,  a  Spaniard  and  a  Portuguese ;  but  I 
never  can  hate  an  American ;  and  yet  the  three  former 
behave  infinitely  better,  and  give  us  far  less  trouble  than 
your  saucy  fellows.'*  Had  British  prisoners  behaved  in 
this  manner,  in  the  prison  ships  in  the  harbor  of  Boston, 
or  Sdlem,  would  our  officers  have  borne  it  with  more  par 
tience  ? 

As  there  were  but  few  prisoners  now  remaining,  and 
ample  room  to  run  and  jump  about  for  exercise,  our  men 
evidently  recruited  ;  and  being  in  good  spirits,  the  rose  of 
health  soon  bloomed  again  ou  their  manly  cheeks,  i  he 
soldiers,  made  prisoners  in  Canada,  evideatly  gained 
strength,  and  acquired  aotivity.  If  we  compare  tlieir 
miserable,  emaciated  looks,  on  their  arrival  at  Melville 
Prison,  from  their  wretched  voyage  down  the  St.  Law- 
renc^e,  with  their  present  appearance,  the  difference  is 
striking.  The  wretched  appearance  of  these  new  made 
soldiers,  reflects  no  credit  on  the  British.  The  savages 
of  the  forest  never  starve  their  prisoners.  The  war  de- 
partment of  the  United  States  having  ordered  these  men 
a  portion  of  their  pay,  they  appropriated  it  chiefly  to  pur- 
chase comfortable  clothing,  which  has  been  productive  of 
great  good,  and  has  probably  saved  tlie  lives  ef  some  ojf 
11* 


'i 


'I'M 


■11 


•f 


i»  ■  I    ,  Mi 


i.'.l  = 


n 


130 


JOURNAL. 


•'■(,«j 


*4 


m 


lliom  ;  otbcrs  squandered  aivay  their  money  in  digsipatiun 
r.hd  gambling 

A  becoming  dei^rce  of  tranquility  prevailed  on  board 
this  prison  ship,  durinp;  my  residence  in  it.  On  (he  idth 
ui'  8e|itember,  we  were  all  sent  on  board  the  Bahama  pris- 
on-sliip,  which  lay  farther  up  the  reach.  Here  we  found 
alioiit  three  hundred  of  our  countrymen,  who  received  u« 
\\\\\\  kindness,  and  many  marks  of  satisfaction.  I  could, 
at  once,  perceive  that  ^eir  situation  had  been  less  pleas- 
uiit  than  ours  in  the  Crown  Prince.  Little  attention  had 
been  paid  to  cleanliness,  and  gamblins;  had  been  carried  to 
•A9,  ^rcat  excess  as  their  means  would  admit  of.  They 
i.oetued  lu  lack  either  the  power,  or  the  resolution  of  ad- 
Is  crin^  to,  and  carrying  into  etfect,  good  and  wholesome 
Tf  igiilullous.  I  never  saw  a  set  of  more  ragged,  dirly  men 
ill  my  life;  and  yet  they  were  disposed  to  sell  their  last 
rag  lo  get  money  to  game  with.  Their  misfortune  was, 
they  had  too  few  men  of  sense  and  respectability  among 
them.  They  had  no  good  committee  men  ;  not  enough  to 
bear  down  the  current  of  vice  and  folly.  We  dread  the 
contagion  of  bad  example.  Some  of  our  men  soon  resort- 
ed to  their  detestible  gambling  tables,  and  pursued  tlieir 
old  vices  with  astonishing  avidity.  We  seriously  expos- 
tulated w  ith  our  companions,  on  their  returning  to  the  per- 
nicious practice  of  gambling,  after  they  had  had  the  vir- 
tue of  refraining  on  board  the  Crown  Prince  ;  and  our  ad- 
vice induced  nearly  all  of  them  to  renounce  the  destructive 
practice.  I  had  read,  but  never  saw  convincing  evidence 
before,  of  gaming  bein^  a  passion,  that  rages  in  propor- 
tion to  the  degrees  of  misery,  until  it  becomes  a  species  of 
insanity. 

We,  "  new  comers,"  introduced  certain  measures  that 
had  a  tendency  to  harmonise  our  sailors  and  soldiers.  The 
disorders  on  board  the  Bahama  arise,  principally,  from 
having  on  board  a  number  of  these  two  classes  of  men. 
Our  sailors  view  a  soldier  as  belonging  to  an  order  ofmcn 
helow  them  ;  and  it  must  be  coufessed  that  our  first  crop 
of  recruits,  that  were  huddled  together  soon  after  the  dec- 
laration of  war,  in  some  measure  justified  this  notion. 
They  were,  many  of  them,  idle,  intemperate  men,  void  of 
character  and  good  constitutions.  The  high  flying  federal 
clergy,  among  other  nonsense,  told  their  flocks  that  the 
war  would  demorali^se  the  people;  wheretvs  it  had  the  $oit- 


MURNATu 


131 


(rary  cfteet,  as  it  reganled  tiio  towns  an  Iiundred  miles 
I'rnm  th**  sea  unast.  It  absolutely  picked  out  all  the  ni^s, 
din,  and  vice,  from  our  towns  and  villu<;eH,  nn<l  transport- 
ed them  into  Canada,  where  tht'\  were  either  captured, 
killed,  or  died  with  sickness,  so  that  our  towns  and  villa- 
c;es  on  the  atlantic  were  cleared  of  idlers  and  drunkards, 
and  experienced  the  benefit  of  their  removal.  The  second 
crop  of  recruits,  in  IHl-*,  were  of  adiftereut  east  Tlio 
lijn'h  bounty,  and  the  love  of  country,  induced  the  emliur' 
i;oed  bailor  to  turn  soldier  ;  to  these  were  added  youna;  me- 
chanics, and  the  sons  of  farmers.  I'hese  were  men  of 
c;ood  habits,  and  of  calculation.  They  looked  forward  to 
tlieir  bounty  of  land,  with  a  determination  of  settliii|>;  on 
ihcir  farms  at  the  close  of  the  war.  I'liese  were  moral 
men,  and  (hey  raised  the  character  of  the  soldier,  and  of 
their  country.  These  were  the  men  who  conquered  at  Chip- 
pewa, Bridi^ewater,  Erie,  and  Platlsburg  <lf  such  men 
w»s  composed  that  potent  army  of  well  disciplined  mili- 
tia, who  reposed  within  twenty  miles  of  the  sea  shores  of 
New  Eui^land— especially  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecti- 
cut; and  who,  had  the  British  attempted  a  landing;,  would 
have  met  them,  with  the  bayonet,  at  the  water's  edge,  and 
crimsoned  its  tide. 

Our  captivated  sailors  knew  nothinc;  of  this  fine  army; 
they  only  knew  the  ilirst  recruits,  and  it  is  no  wonder  they 
viewed  Iheni  as  their  inferiors,  as  they  really  were.  Even 
the  officers  were,  generally  speaking,  much  inferior  to 
those  who  closed  the  war.  The  American  sailor  appears 
to  be  a  careless,  unthinking,  swearing  fellow  ;  but  he  is 
generally  much  better  than  he  appears.  He  is  generally 
marked  with  honor,  generosity,  and  honesty.  A  ship's 
crew  soon  assimilates,  and  they  arc  all  brother  tars,  em- 
barked together  in  the  same  bottom,  and  in  the  same  pur- 
suit of  interest,  curiosity  or  fame;  while  the  rigid  disci- 
pline of  an  army  does  not  admit  of  this  association  and  as- 
similation. A  sailor,  therefore,  greets  a  saiior,  as  his 
brother  ;  but  has  not  yet  learned  to  greet  a  sold'er  as  his 
brother  ;  nor  has  the  American  soldier  ever  felt  the  fra# 
ternal  attachment  to  the  sailor.  It  sho(>ld  be  the  policy 
of  our  rulers,  and  military  commanders,  to  assimilate  the 
American  soldier  and  sailor;  and  there  is  little  doubt  but 
that  they  will  amalgamate  in  time.  In  France,  the  sol- 
dier looks  down  upon  the  sailor;  in  England,  and  in  Amer- 


f-ii'l 


f  i  i.  ;tj :  !^ 


m 


i 


132 


JOVRNAL. 


%i; 


«»»%^^^ 


-'     J&iJII,, 


;4', 


Ji 


ica<  the  sailor  looks  down  on  the  soldier.    We  must  learn 
them  to  march  arm  in  arm. 

Confinement,  dirtiness^  and  deprivations,  have  an  evil 
operation  on  the  mind.  I  have  observed  some  who  had  a 
little  refinement  of  manners,  at  the  commencement  of  their 
captivity,  and  regarded  the  situation  and  feelings  of  oth- 
ers near  them,  with  compjiacency,  have  lost  it  all,  and 
sunk  into  a  state  of  misanthropy.  We,  Americans,  exer- 
cise too  little  ceremony  at  best,  but  some  of  our  prisoners 
lost  all  deference  and  respect  for  their  countrymen,  and 
became  mere  hogs,  the  stronger  pushing  the  weaker  aside, 
to  get  the  most  swilL 

•'  Jove  fix'd  it  certain  that  the  very  day 

*'  Made  man  a  slave,  took,  half  his  worth  away."— — Hombr. 

All  our  industrious  men,  were  well  behaved,  and 
iill  our  idle  men  were  hoggish.  Some  of  our  countrymen 
worked  very  neatly  in  bone,  out  of  which  material  they 
built  ships,  and  carved  images,  and  snuff  boxes,  and  tobac- 
co boxes,  and  watch  cases.  Some  covered  boxes,  in  a  very 
neat  manner,  with  straw.  The  men  thus  employed,  formed 
a  strong  contrast  to  those  who  did  nothing,  or  who  followed 
np  gambling  Our  ship  afforded  striking  instances  of  the 
pernicious  '^fcects  of  idleness,  and  of  the  beneficial  effects 
of  industry.  We,  on  board  the  Crown  Prince,  instructed 
the  boys  ;  but  in  this  ship,  there  has  been  no  attention 
paid  to  them,  and  they  are,  upon  the  whole,  as  vicious  in 
their  conduct,  and  as  profane  in  their  language,  as  any 
hoys  I  ever  saw.  Frenchmen  are  bad  companions  for 
American  boys.  They  can  teach  them  more  than  they 
ever  thought  of  in  their  own  country. 

In  January  last,  three  hundred  and  sixty  American 
prisoners  were  sent  on  board  this  ship.  Great  mortality 
prevailed  among  the  Danish  prisoners,  prior  to  the  arri- 
val of  our  countrymen,  on  board  the  Bahama.  The  Uanes 
occupied  her  main  deck,  while  we  occupied  the  lower  one. 
When  our  poor  fellows  were  tumbled  from  out  of  one  ship 
into  this,  they  .had  rot  sufficient  clothes  to  cover  their 
shivering  limbs  in  this  coldest  month  of  the  year.  They 
vere,  indeed,  objects  of  compassion,  emaciated,  pale,  shud- 
dering, low  spirited,  and  their  constitutions  sadly  broken 
down.  Their  system  was  not  strong  enough  to  resist  any 
impression,  especially  the  contagion  of  the  jail  fever,  un- 
der which  the  Danes  were  dying  by  dozens.    Out  of  ihre» 


JOURNAL. 


133 


bundred  and  sixty-one  Americans,  who  came  last  on  board, 
eighly-foiir  were,  in  the  course  of  three  months,  buried  in 
the  surrounding  marshes,  the  burjin;;  place  of  the  prison 
ships.  I  may  possibly  forgive,  but  1  never  can  furget  the 
unfeelina*  conduct  of  the  British,  on  this  occasion.  Why 
send  men  on  board  a  crowded  prison  ship,  that  they  knew 
was  infected  with  a  mortal  contagion  ?  Their  govern- 
ment must  have  known  the  inevitable  consequences  of  put- 
ting three  hundred  debilitated  men  on  board  an  infected 
ship,  where  there  were  not  enough  well,  to  attend  on  the 
sick.  If  we,  Americans,  ever  treated  British  prisoners  ia 
our  hands,  in  this  cruel  manner,  the  facts  have  never 
reached  my  ears.  Here  was  an  opportunity  for  redeem- 
ing their  blasted  reputation,  for  the  horrors  of  their  old 
Jersey  prison  ship,  in  the  revolutionary  war.  But  they 
supposed  that  our  aflfairs  were  so  low,  and  their  own  so 
glorious,  that  there  was  bo  room  for  retaliation.  The 
surrounding  marshes  were  already  unhealthy,  without 
adding  the  poison  of  human  bodies,  which  were  every  hour 
put  into  them.  Several  persons,  now  prisoners  here,  and 
I  rank  myself  among  that  number,  had  a  high  idea  of 
Britisli  humanity,  prior  to  our  captivity  ;  but  we  have 
been  compelled  to  change  our  opinions  of  the  character 
of  the  people  from  whom  we  descended.  The  command- 
er of  the  Bahama,  Mr.  W.  is  a  passionate  and  very  hot 
tempered  man,  but  is,  upon  the  whole,  an  humane  one. 
We  have  mure  to  praise  than  to  blame,  in  his  conduct  to- 
wards us.  tie  is  not  ill  dii^poscd  to  the  Americans,  gen- 
erally, and  wishes  for  a  lusting  peace  between  the  two 
contending  nations.  liis  mate  is  the  reverse  of  all  thisy 
especially  when  he  is  overcharged  with  liquor. 

As  characteristic  of  some  of  our  imprudent  country- 
men, I  insert  the  fulinwing  anecdote.  The  Belleceiin, 
(or  Bellauxcean)  prison  ship,  lay  next  to  us.  She  was 
iillcd  with  Norwegians,  and  were  detained  in  England, 
while  Norway  adhered  to  a  king  of  their  own  cho'ce* 
The  commander  of  her  was  a  nettlesame,  fractious,  fool- 
ish old  fellow,  who  was  continnally  overlooking  u.>(,  and 
hailing  our  commander,  to  inform  him  if  any  one  smug- 
gled a  bottle  of  rum  IVom  the  market  boats.  His  Norwe- 
gians gave  him  no  trouble,  ihey  were  a  peaceable,  subser- 
vient people,  with  no  fun  in  their  constitutions.,  nor  any 
jovial  cast  in  their  composition.     They  were  very  ditfer- 


^H 


^'n 


|.,i,'-;:.U 

m 


if 


C"' 


I 


•i 


134« 


JOURNAL, 


um' 


.;,      *'?' 


•        "»^ 


.-*'(' 


ent  from  the  British  or  American  sailor,  who  will  never 
he  baulked  of  his  fun,  if  the  Devil  stands  at  the  door.  This 
imprudent,  meddling  old  commander,  of  the  Bellauxpean, 
was  forever  informing  the  officer  of  the  deck  of  every  lit- 
tle pickadillo  of  the  American  prisoners  ;  and  he,  of 
course,  got  the  hearty  ill  will  of  all  the  Americans  in  the 
ship  Bahama.  He  once  saw  a  marine  connive  at  the  pass- 
ing a  couple  of  bottles  of  liquor  through  the  lower  ports, 
and  he  hailed  the  commander,  and  informed  him  of  it ; 
and  the  marine  was  immediately  punished  for  it.  This 
roused  the  Americans  to  revenge  ;  for  the  British  soldier, 
or  marine,  is  so  much  of  a  slave,  that  revenge  never  dare 
enter  his  head.  Retaliation  belongs  alone  to  the  free  and 
daring  American.  He  alone  enjoys  the  lex  talioniSf  and 
glories  in  carrying  it  into  execution. 

Fish  and  potatoes  constituted  the  diet  of  the  following 
day.  What  does  our  "  dare-devils"  do  but  reserve  all 
their  potatoes  to  serve  as  cold  shot  to  fire  at  the  fractious 
commander  of  their  next  neighbor,  the  Bellauxcean.  Ac- 
cordingly  when  they  observed  the  old  man  stubbing  back- 
wards and  forwards  his  quarter  deck,  and  stopping  now 
and  then  to  peak  over  to  our  ship  to  see  if  we  smuggled  a 
bottle  of  liquor,  they  gave  him  a  volley  of  potatoes,  which 
was  kept  up  until  the  veteran  commander  hailed  our  cap- 
tain and  told  him  that  if  the  Americans  did  not  cease 
their  insult  he  would  order  his  marines  to  fire  upon  them  ; 
but  his  threatenings  produced  no  other  efiect  than  that  of 
increasing  the  shower  of  potatoes  ;  so  that  this  brave 
British  tar  was  compelled  to  seek  shelter  in  his  cabin  ; 
and  then  the  potatoe  battery  ceased  its  fire.  When  all 
was  quiet,  the  old  gentleman  seized  the  opportunity  of 
pushing  on  board  of  us.  When  he  came  on  our  quarter 
deck,  rage  stopped  all  power  of  utterance,  he  foamed  and 
stamped  like  a  mad  man.  At  length,  he  asked  Mr.  Wilson 
how  he  could  permit  a  body  of  prisoners  under  his  com- 
mand and  control,  to  insult  one  of  his  majesty's  officers 
in  his  own  ship  ?  To  which  Mr.  Wilson  replied,  that  he 
should  use  his  influence  to  prevent  a  repetition  of  the  in- 
sult, and  restore  harmony,  and  that  he  was  sorry  that  his 
men  should  get  into  any  difficulty  with  those  of  another 
ship;  and  he  recommended  moderation;  but  \hp  old 
commander  swore  and  raved  terribly,  when  our  worthy 
protector  reminded  him  that  he  was  not  on  his  own  quarter 


JOURNALt 


1S5 


deck.  The  eoolness  of  Mr  Wilson  still  further  enraged 
our  exasperated  neighbor,  and  he  left  the  ship  exeerat- 
ins;  every  one  on  board,  and  swearing  that  he  would 
make  complaint  to  the  commodore. 

When  the  prisoners  saw  how  their  own  commander 
viewed  the  interference  of  another,  they  collected  all  the 
potatoes  they  could  find,  and  I  am  sorry  to  add,  pieces  of 
con  I,  and  as  soon  as  he  lei't  the  side  of  the  Bahama,  they 
pelted  him  till  he  fairly  skulked  under  cover  in  his  own 
prison  ship.  He  directly  drew  his  marines  up  in  battle 
array,  on  his  quarter  deck,  when  the  captain  of  the  Baha- 
ma seeing  his  folly,  and  knowing  his  disposition,  exerted 
himself  to  make  every  American  go  below,  and  enjoined 
upon  them  a  cessation  of  potatoes.  We  gained,  however, 
more  by  this  short  war,  than  most  of  the  nations  of.  the 
world,  for  it  entirely  removed  the  cause  for  which  we  took 
up  potatoes  against  one  of  his  Britanick  majesty's  officers, 
-within  ten  leagues  of  the  capital  of  his  empire.  I  over- 
heard capt.  Wilson  say  to  the  second  in  command,  ^*  these 
Americans  are  the  sauciest  dogs  I  ever  saw  ;  but  damn 
me  if  I  can  help  liking  them,  nor  can  I  ever  hate  men  who 
are  so  much  like  ourselvcii-— they  are  John  Bull  all  over.*' 

in  a  course  of  kind  and  flattering  treatment  our  coun- 
trymen were  orderly  and  easily  governed;  but  when  they 
conceived  themselves  ill  treated  you  might  as  well  attempt 
to  govern  so  many  Bast  India  tygers.  The  British  offi- 
cers in  this  river  discovered  this,  and  dreaded  their  com- 
bined anger  ;  and  yet  the  Americans  are  seldom  or  ever 
known  to  carry  their  vengeance  to  blood  and  murder,  like 
the  Spaniard,  Italian  and  Portuguese. 

A  Swedish  frigate  is  just  arrived  in  the  reach,  to  take 
away  those  good  boys,  the  Norwegians.  King  Bernadotte 
sent  them  two  and  six  pence  a  piece,  to  secure  their  affec- 
tions, and  provide  them  with  some  needed  articles  for 
their  passage  to  Norway.  A  cartel  is  hourly  expected 
from  London,  to  take  home  some  of  their  soldiers.  The 
Leydeu,  an  old  Dutch  ()4<,  is  preparing,  at  the  Nore,  to 
take  us  away. 

We  are  induced  to  believe  that  our  emancipation  is 
nigli.  We  are  every  day  expecting,  that  we,  too,  shall  be 
sent  home;  but  this  hope,  instead  of  inspiring  us  with  joy 
and  gladness,  has  generated  sourness  and  discontent.  It 
seems  that  the  government  of  the  United  States  give  a 


•    . 

t' 

■t 

■  r 

•••t'l 

.'■• ' 

w* 

■■l.i"- 


>.M 


%m 


W 


% 


11- 


,i  '' 


136 


JOURNAL. 


preference  to  tho&e  who  had  enlisted  In  the  publie  service 
over  such  as  were  in  privateers.  We  have  felt  this  dif- 
ference all  along.  Again,  the  government  are  disposed  to 
liberate  the  soldiers  before  the  sailors,  because  their  suf- 
ferings are  greater  than  those  of  sailors,  fr»»ra  their  former 
mode  of  life  and  occupations.  They  were  farmers  or  me- 
chanics, or  any  thing  but  seamen;  and  this  makes  their 
residence  on  ship-board  very  irksome  ;  whereas,  the  sailor 
is  at  home  on  the  deck  or  bold  of  the  ship.  Most  of  these 
soldiers  were  from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  and  N"ew 
York,  and  many  from  the  western  parts  of  the  union. 
These  men  could  not  bear  confinement  like  sailors,  neither 
could  they  bear  a  short  allowance  of  food,  nor  could  they 
shirk  for  themselves  like  a  Jack  tar.  A  sailor  could  en- 
dure, with  a  degree  of  patience,  restraints  and  depriva- 
tions that  were  death  to  landsmen.  Many  of  these  youth- 
ful soldiers  had  not  long  left  their  native  habitations,  and 
parental  care,  when  they  were  captured  ;  their  morals  and 
manners  were  purer  than  those  of  sailors.  Such  young 
men  suffered  not  only  in  their  health,  but  in  their  feelings, 
■  and  many  sunk  under  their  accumulated  miseries ;  for, 
nourished  by  indulgence,  in  the  midst  of  abundance,  many 
of  them  died  for  want  of  sufHcient  food.  These  miserable 
beings  were,  as  they  ought  to  be,^the  first  objects  of  the 
solicitude  of  government. 

The  prisoners  were  seen  here  and  there,  collected  in 
squads,  chewing  toget  ker  the  cud  of  discontent,  and  grumb- 
ling at  the  imagined  partiality  and  injustice  of  their  rul- 
ers. These  discontents  and  bickerings  too  often  damped 
the  joy  of  their  prospect  of  liberation  from  captivity  The 
poor  privateers*  men  had  most  reason  for  complaining,  as 
they  found  themselves  neglected  by  one  side,  and  despised 
by  the  other. 

The  9.ufferings  of  soldiers,  many  of  whom  were  militia, 
who  were  taken  on  the  frontiers  of  Canada,  are  not  to  be 
withheld  from  the  public.  They  were  first  stripped  by 
the  savages  in  the  British  service,  and  then  driven  before 
them,  half  naked,  to  the  city  of  Quebec;  from  thence  they 
were  sent,  in  ill  provided  transports,  to  Halifax,  suffering 
all  the  way,  the  torments  of  hunger  and  thirst.  >yhen  they 
arrived  at  Melville  prison,  they  were  shocking  objects  to 
the  prisoners  they  found  there ;  emaciated,  weak,  dirty, 
sickly,  and  but  half  clothed,  they  excited,  in  us  all,  com- 


JOURNAL. 


137 


fuiseration  for  their  great  misery  ;  and  indii^nation,  con- 
tempt  and  revenge,  towards  the  nation  who  could  allow 
such  barbarity.  The  cruel  deception  practised  on  their 
embarkation  for  England,  instead  of  going  home ;  their 
various  miseries  on  ship-board,  where  us  landsmen,  they 
itiiderwent  infinitely  more  than  the  sailors ;  for  many  of  them 
never  had  seen  the  salt  ocean  ;  and  their  close  confinement 
iu  the  hold  of  a  ship,  gave  them  the  idea  of  a  floating  hell. 
The  captivity  of  the  sailors  was  sufficiently  distressing; 
but  it  was  nothing  to  that  of  the  wretched  landsmen,  w)io 
considered  a  ship,  at  all  times,  a  kind  of  dungeon.  The 
transporting  our  soldiers  to  England,  and  their  sufferings 
during  their  passage,  and  while  confined  in  that  country, 
has  engendered  a  hatred  against  the  British  nation,  that 
ages  will  not  obliterate,  and  time  scarcely  diminish.  We, 
Americans,  can  never  be  justly  accused  of  want  of  human- 
ity to  the  English  prisoner. 

i  have  frequently  thought  that  the  over-rated  and  high- 
ly boasted  British  bravery  and  humanity,  would  find  their 
graves  in  America.  The  treatment  these  soldiers  expe- 
rienced has  stigmatised  the  English  character,  and  de- 
servedly so.  It  is  not  in  the  power  of  words,  and  scarcely 
in  the  power  of  the  painter*s  pencil,  to  convey  an  idea  of 
their  wretchedness.  They  were  covered  with  rags,  dirt, 
and  vermin.  They  were,  to  ug,  objects  of  pity,  but  to  all 
others,  objects  of  disgust ;  even  we,  their  brothers,  recoil- 
ed, at  times,  on  approaching  them.  Was  there  any  design 
in  this  ?  Did  our  enemies  wish  to  impress  their  country- 
men with  an  abhorrence  of  a  yankee  ?  How  else  can  we 
account  for  a  treatment  which  our  people  never  experienc- 
ed when  prisoners  of  the  Indians  ?  No — the  savages  never 
starve  their  prisoners,  nor  deprive  them  the  use  of  water. 
Dispirited,  and  every  way  disheartened,  our  poor  fellows 
had,  generally  speaking,  the  aspect  of  a  cowardly,  lour 
spirited  race  of  men,  and  much  inferior  to  the  British.  We 
here  saw  how  wretched  circumstances,  in  a  short  time,  de- 
bases a  brave  and  high  spirited  man.  When  people  frora 
the  shore  visited  our  »hip,  and  saw  our  miserable  soldiers, 
we  do  not  wonder  that  they  dei^pised  them.  We  some- 
times had  the  mortification  of  bearing  remarks  in  the 
Scotch  accent,  to  this  effect :  "  So,  these  are  samples  of  the 
brave  yaukees  that  too|(  the  Guerriere  &ud  Java  ;  it  proves 
13 


iv 


1  ■■ 


•  »       -■ 


I  ;;-.l; 


L^  if 

'    f    ff|i|: 


r'f 


Fi  In 


vitlifl 


K 


g;;4. 


i3S 


JOURNAL. 


to  a  demonstration,  that  the  American  frigates  were  man- 
jieil  with  British  deserters." 

The  sailors  often  tried  to  spirit  up  the  soldiers,  and  to 
encoiira8;e  them  to  cleanliness ;  but  it  was  in  vain,  as 
most  of  them  were  depressed  below  the  elasticity  of  their 
brave  souls  ;  yet  amidst  their  distress,  not  a  man  of  them 
would  listen  to  proposals  to  enter  the  British  service.  Ev- 
ery one  preferred  death,  and  even  wished  for  it.  The 
Americans  are  a  clean  people  in  their  persons  as  well  as 
in  their  houses.  None  of  them  are  so  poor  as  to  live  in 
«abins,  like  the  Irish,  or  in  cottages,  like  the  Scotch ;  but 
they  are  brought  up  in  houses  having  chimnies,  glass 
"Windows,  separate  and  convenient  rooms,  and  good  bed- 
ding ;  and  to  all  these  comfortable  things  we  must  add 
that  the  poorest  of  our  countrymen  eat  meat  once  ev- 
ery day,  and  most  of  them  twiee.  To  young  men  so 
lirought  up  and  nourished,  a  British  captivity  on  board 
their  horrid  transports,  and  even  on  board  their  prison- 
ships,  is  worse  than  death.  If  we,  Americans,  treat  Brit- 
ish prisoners  as  they  treat  ours,  let  it  be  published  to  the 
M'orld  to  our  disgrace.  Should  the  war  continue  many 
years,  I  predict  that  few  Americans  will  be  taken  alive  by 
the  English. 

After  these  poor  fellows  hdd  received  money  and  cloth- 
ing from  our  government,  they  became  cheerful,  clean, 
and  many  of  them  neat,  and  were  no  bad  specimens  of 
American  soldiery.  We  are  sorry  to  remark,  that  there 
was  observed  something  repulsive  between  the  soldier  and 
the  sailor.  The  soldier  thought  himself  better  than  the 
Jack  tar,  while  the  sailor  felt  himself,  en  board  ship,  a 
better  fellow  than  the  soldier;  one  was  a  fish  in  the  water, 
the  other  a  lobster  out  of  the  water.  The  sailors  always 
took  the  lead,  because  they  were  at  home  ;  while  the  dis- 
pirited landsman  felt  himself  a  stranger  in  an  enemy's 
land,  even  among  his  countrymen.  It  wojuld  be  well  if  all 
our  sea  and  land  commanders  would  exert  themselves  to 
break  down  the  partition  wall  that  is  growing  up  betwee« 
our  sailors  and  soldiers;  they  should  be  constantly  re- 
minded that  they  are  all  children  of  one  and  the  same 
great  family,  whereof  the  President  of  the  United  Slates 
IS  father ;  that  they  have  all  been  taught  to  read  the  samt 
bible,  and  to  obey  the.same  great  moral  law  of  loving  one 
another.    I  observed,  with  pain,  that  nothing  vexed  a 


JOURNAL. 


130 


es  were  man- 


sailor  more,  thftn  to  be  called  by  a  brother  tar,  a  soldicr- 
luokiiii;  son  ot*  a  .     This  terra  of  contempt  commonly 

led  to  blows.  This  mutual  dislike  bred  difficulties  in  the 
sfovernment  of  ourselves,  and  sometimes  defeated  our  best 
fe^^ulations ;  for  it  split  us  into  parties,  and  then  we  be- 
haved as  bad  as  our  superiors  and  richer  brethren  do  on 
shore,  negleetinp;  the  general  interest  to  indulge  our  own 
privatie  views,  and  spirit  of  revenijje.  I  thought  our  ship 
often  resembled  our  republic  in  miniature,  fur  human  na- 
ture is  the  same  always,  and  only  raries  its  aspect  from 
situation  and  circumstances. 

It  is  now  the  latter  end  of  September;  the  weather 
pretty  pleasant,  hut  not  equal  to  our  fine  Septembers  and 
Octobers  in  New  England.  We  are,  every  hour,  expect- 
ing orders  to  quit  this  river,  and  return  to  oar  own  dear 
country. 


■I*. 


:^W} 


CHAPTER  III, 


October  3f/,  1814.— We  were  now  ordered  to  pick  up 
our  duds  and  get  all  ready  to  embark  in  certain  gun-brigs 
that  had  anchored  along  side  of  us^  and  an  hundred  of  us 
were  soon  put  on  board,  and  the  tide  favoring,  we  gently 
drifted  down  the  river  Medway.  It  rained,  and  not  being 
permitted  to  go  below,  and  being  thinly  clad,  we  were  wet 
to  the  skin.  When  the  rain  ceased,  our  commander  went 
below,  and  returned,  in  a  short  time,  gaily  equipped  in  his 
full  uniform,  cockade  and  dirk.  He  mounted  the  poop, 
where  he  strutted  about,  sonietimes  viewing  himrelf,  and 
now  and  then  eyeing  us,  as  if  to  see  if  we,  too,  admired 
him.  He  was  about  five  feet  high,  with  thick  broad 
shoulders,  and  portly  belly.  We  concluded  that  he  would 
aif'ord  us  some  fun  ;  but  we  were  mistaken ;  for,  witii  the 
body  of  Dr.  Slop,  he  bore  a  round,  ruddy,  open  and  smil- 
ing countenance,  expressive  of  good  nature  and  urbanity.^ 
The  crew  said,  that  although  he  was  no  seaman,  he  was  a 
man,  and  that  a  better  fellow  never  eat  the  king's  bread  ^ 

*  He  was  no  bad  resemblance  of  our  Captaia  C* 


llllil 

I  i 


.  1 


140 


JOURNAL 


i  ;;-:;■! 


'V 


.'*    n 


?■>  u       i ! 


that  tliey  were  liappy  under  his  command  ;  and  the  only 
dread  they  had  was,  that  he,  or  they  should  be  transferrocl 
to  another  ship.  Ddes  not  this  prove  that  seamen  can  be 
better  governed  by  kindness  and  good  humor  than  by  the 
boatswain's  eat?  We  would  ask  two  of  our  own  naval 
commanders,  B.  and  C.  whether  they  had  not  better  try 
the  experiment  ?  We  should  be  very  sorry  if  the  iufant 
navy  of  our  young  country,  should  have  the  character  of 
too  much  severity  of  discipline.  To  say  that  it  is  requi- 
site  is  a  libel  on  our  national  oharaeter.  Slavish  minds 
ul?>ne  require  the  lash. 

On  board  this  brig- were  two  London  mechanics,  recent- 
ly pressed  in  the  streets  of  the  capital  of  the  English  na- 
tion— a  nation  that  has  long  boasted  of  its  liberty  and  hu- 
inanity.  These  coeknies  wore  long  coats,  drab-coloured 
velvet  breeches,  and  grey  stockings.  They  were  con- 
slantly  followed  by  the  boatswain's  mate,  who  often  im- 
pri'sscd  his  lessons,  and  excited  their  activity  with  a  rope's 
Olid  ^vhich  he  carried  in  his  hat.  The  poor  fellows  were 
extremely  anxious  to  avoid  such  repeated  hard  arguments, 
and  i-hey  kept  at  as  great  a  distance  from  their  tyrant  as 
))0ssihle.  who  seemed  to  delight  in  beating  them.  It  ap- 
]»eured  to  me  to  be  far  out  doing,  in  cruelty,  the  Algerines. 
They  look  melancholy,  and,  at  times,  very  sad.  May 
America  never  become  the  greatest  of  naval  powers,  if  to 
attain  it,  she  must  all«w  a  brutal  sailor  to  treat  a  citizen, 
kidnapped  from  his  family  in  the  streets  of  our  cities, 
M'orse  than  we  use  a  do^^.  1  again  repeat  it,  for  the  thon- 
isandth  time,  the  English  are  a  hard  hearted,  cruel  and 
barbarous  race  :  and,  on  this  account  alone,  I  have  often 
been  ashamed,  that  we,  Americans,  descended  mostly 
iVom  them.  When  a  man  is  ill  used,  it  invites  others  to 
insult  him.  One  of  our  prisoners,  who  had  been  treated 
^^  ith  a  drink  of  grog,  took  out  his  knife,  and,  as  the  cock- 
ney's face  was  the  other  way,  cut  oft' one  skirt  of  his  long 
loat.  This  joke  excited  peals  of  laughter.  When  the 
])oor  Londoner  saw  that  this  was  done  by  a  roguish  Amer- 
ican, at  the  instigation  of  his  own  countrymen,  the  tear 
stood  in  his  eye.  Even  our  jolly,  big  bellied  captain,  en- 
joyed the  joke,  and  ordered  the  boatswain's  mate  to  cut  off" 
the  other  skirt,  who,  after  viewing  him  amidst  shouts  of 
laughter,  damned  him  for  a  land  lubber,  and  said,  now  he 
Iiud  lost  hii>  ling-tail.  he  looked  like  a  gentleman  sailor. 


(M 


JOLRNAt. 


141 


ftnd  the  onfr 
»e  transferred 
eumen  can  Uq 
rthan  by  the 
r  oun  naval 
9t  better  try 
»*'  the  infant 
characler  of 
t  't  is  requi. 
avish  miuda 

nic«,  recent- 
Bn^Iish  na- 
•erty  and  hn- 

rab-coloured 
y  were  con- 
10  often  im- 
vith  a  rope's 
eliovvs  were 
I  arj>;ument8, 
ir  tyrant  as 
em.     It  ap- 
e  Algerines. 
sad.     May 

owers,  if  to 
it  a  citizen, 

our  cities, 
>r  the  thou- 
>  erne]  and 

have  often 
led  mostly 
8  others  to 
en  treated 
s  the  coek- 
^fhh  lon^ 
When  tht 
lish  Anier- 
i>  the  tear 
ptain,  en- 
!  to  cut  off 
shouts  of 
d,  no IV  he 
n  sailor. 


Although  our  good  natured  captain  laughed  at  this  joke, 
I  confess  1  could  not ;  all  the  horrors  of  impressment  rush- 
ed on  my  mind.  This  mechanic  may  have  left  a  wife  and 
children,  suffering  and  starving,  from  having  her  husband 
and  their  father  kidnapped,  like  a  negro  on  the  coast  of 
Guinea,  and  held  in  worse  than  ^legro  slavery.  But  this 
\i  Old  England,  the  residence  of  liberty  and  equal  laws  j 
and  the  bulwark  of  our  holy  religion!  The  crimes  of  na- 
tions are  punished  in  this  world  ;  and  we  may  venture  to 
predict,  that  the  impressment  of  seamen,  and  cruel  military 
punishments,  will  operate  the  downfal  of  this  splendid  im- 
postor, whose  proper  emblem  is  a  bloated  figure,  seated  oU 
a  throne,  made  of  dead  mens'  bones,  with  a  crown  on  its. 
bead,  a  sword  in  one  hand,  and  a  cup  filled  with  the  tears 
of  widows  and  orphans  in  the  other. 

We  passed  by  Sheerness,  and,  in  our  passage  to  the 
Norc,  came  near  several  hulks  filled  with  convicts.  We 
soon  came  along  side  the  Leyden,  an  old  Dutch  64<,  fitted 
up  with  births,  eight  feet  by  six,  so  as  (o  contain  six  per- 
sons ;  but  they  were  nearly  all  filled  by  prisoners  who 
came  before  us,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  shirk  wherever 
we  could. 

We  found  the  captain  of  the  Leyden  very  much  such  a 
Dian  as  the  commander  of  the  Malabar.  Our  allowaneoi 
of  food  was  as  short  as  he  could  make  it,  and  our  liquor 
ungenerous.  He  said  we  were  a  damn  set  of  rebel  yankee& 
that  lived  too  well,  which  made  us  saucy..  The  first  lieu-^ 
tenant  was  a  kind  and  humane  gentleman,  but  his  captaia 
was  the  reverse.  H&  would  hear  no  complaints  and  threat- 
ened to  put  the  bearer  of  them  in  irons. 

The  countenance,  and  whole  form  of  this  man  was  indio 
eative  of  malice ;  his  very  aU'^  was  that  of  an  abrupt  and 
angry  tyrant.  His  gloomy  visage  was  that  of  an  harden- 
ed jailor;  and  he  bore  towards  us  the  same  sort  of  affec- 
tion which  we  experienced  from  the  refugees  in  Xova 
Scotia.  He  caused  a  marine  to  be  most  severely  flogged 
for  selling  one  of  che  prisatiers.  a  Little  tobacco^  which  he 
saved  out  of  his  own  allowance.  The  crew  were  forbidden 
to  j;pti>k  with  any  of  ns-j  but,  when  they  could  with  safe- 
ty, they  doseribed  him  to  be  the  mo»t  odious  of  tyrants, 
and  the  most  mj-licious  of  men.  Thoy  said  he  liever  ap- 
peared pleased  only  when  his  men  were  suffering  the  ago 
12» 


I''] 


r-h 


1 

f.  1 


•       I 


^i*    'W'  !' 


\  «i 


.  •/■■  <• 


',iS.i«f 


n 


1i:J 


JOURNAL. 


ities  of  (he  boatswain's  lashes.     In  this  he  rescinhleJ  thi 


liemons  amon;^  the  damned. 


Upon  calling  over  uur  names,  and  parading  our9elve*> 
hetbrc  eapt.  Davie,  we  could  discover,  in  a  second,  the 
harsh  temper  of  the  man.  We,  at  lens;th,  .weighed  anchor, 
]>ussed  a  fleet  oi*  men  of  war,  and  in  a  few  days  arrived  in 
IMymonth  harbor.     The   captain   went   immediately  on 
shore  and  left  the  command  to  his  worthy  and  humane 
lieutenant.     The  next  day  a  great  many  boats  came  off  to 
us  tilled    with  Cyprian  dames.     They  were,  generally, 
healthy,  rosy  looking   lasses.     Tliei<*  number  increased 
overy  hour,  until  there  were  as  many  un  board  of  us  as 
there  were  men.     In  short,  every  man  who  paid  the  wa< 
terman  half  a  crown  had  a  wife,  so  that  the  ship,  belong- 
ing to  the  bulwark  of  our  religion,  exhibited  such  a  scene 
us  is  described  by  the  navigators,  who  have  visited  tho 
Suulh-Sea  Islands.     We  read,  with  surprise  and  pity*  the 
conduct  of  the  female  sex,  when  European  ships  visit  the 
islands  in  the  Pacific  ocean  ;  and  we  are  unwilling  t&  give 
oredii  to  all  we  read,  because  we,  Americans,  never  fail  to 
annex  the  idea  of  modesty  to  that  of  a  woman ;  for  female 
litrentiousnes  is  very  rarely  witnessed   in  the  new  world. 
This  has  rendered  the  accounts  of  navigators,  in  a  degree, 
incredible  ;  but  we  see  the  same  thing  in  the  ports  of  Kng- 
Jand— a  land  of  christians — renowned  for  its  bishops  and 
their  church,  and  for  moral  writings  and  sermons,  and  for 
their  bible    societies,  and  religious  institutions,  and  for 
their  numerous  moral  essays,  and  chaste  poetical  writ- 
ings.    Yes,   christian  reader !  in    this   religious  island, 
whereof  George  the  3d  is  king,  and  Charlotte  the  queen, 
the  youug  females  crowd  the  prison  ships  and  tuko  for  hus- 
bands the  ragged  American  prisoners,  provided  they  can 
i;el  a  few  shillings  by  it.     What  are  we  to  think  of  the 
state  of  society   in  England,  when  two  or  three  sisters 
leave  the  house  of  their  parents,  and  pass  a  week  on  board 
of  a  newly  arrived  ship?  What  ean  be  the  sentiments  of 
the  daughters  ?  What  the  feelings  of  their  mothers,  their 
fathers,  and  their  brothers  ?  In  the  South  Hea  Islands, 
young  females  ktiow  not  what  modesty  means ;  neither  that 
nor  chastity  is  a  virtue  in  those   regions.     But   it   is  not 
quite  so  in  Kngltind  ;  there  this  lewd  conduct  is  a  mark  of 
debasement,  depravity  and  vice.      The  sea-ports  of  Eng- 
land, and  the  streets  of  her  capital;  and;  indeed;  of  all  hiir 


3QVKSAL, 


113 


Inrs^  cifieg,  are  filled  with  handsome  women,  who  oft'er 
theinselven  as  wives  to  miiii  they  never  saw  before,  for  tt 
few  shiltint^s ;  uiiil  yel  this  is  the  country  of  which  our 
reverend  doctors,  from  the  pulpit,  assure  us,  contains  more 
religion  and  morality  than  any  other  of  the  same  number 
of  inhabitants ;  nay,  more,  our  governor  has  proclaimed 
it  to  the  world  over,  as  being  the  very  bulwark  of  the  re< 
ligioB  we  profess.  If  cruelty  to  prisoners,  cruelty  to  their 
own  soldiers,  of  kidnapping  their  mechanics,  by  press 
gangs,  if  shocking  barbarity  be  exercised  towards  prison- 
ers, and  if  open,  shameless  lewdness,  mark  and  disgrace 
their  sea-ports,  their  capital,  and  all  their  large  cities,  are 
the  modest  and  correct  people,  inhabiting  the  towns  and 
villages  of  the  United  States,  to  be  affronted  by  being  told 
publicly,  that  they  have  less  religion,  less  morality  than 
the  people  of  England.  How  long  shall  we  oontinue  to 
be  abused  by  folly  and  presumption  ?  We,  Americans,  are 
yet  a  modest,  clean,  and  looral  people,  as  much  so  as  the 
bwiss  in  Europe,  and  we  leel  ourselves  offended  and  dis- 
gusted when  our  blind  guides  tell  us  to  follow  the  exam- 
ple of  the  English  in  their  manners  and  sexual  conduct. 
Could  I  allow  myself  to  particularise  the  conduct  of 
the  fair  sex,  who  crowd  on  board  every  recently  ar- 
rived ship,  and  who  swarm  on  the  shores,  my  readers 
would  confess  that  few  scenes  of  the  kind  could  exceed  it. 
The  freedom  of  the  American  press  will  give  to  posterity 
a  just  picture  of  British  morals,  iu  the  reigus  of  George 
the  3d  and  4th. 

While  laying  in  Plymouth  harbor,  we  received  the  news 
»f  the  capture  of  the  City  of  Washington,  and  the  burning 
of  its  public  buildings.  Every  body  around  us  believed 
that  America  was  conquered,  and  the  war  over.  After 
we  had  read  the  account  iu  the  newspaper,  the  Lieuten- 
ant came  down  among  us,  and  talked  with  us  on  the  event, 
and  asked  us  if  we  did  not  think  that  America  would  now 
submit  and  make  peace  on  such  terms  as  Great  Britain 
should  propose.  We  all  told  him  with  once  voice,  no  I 
no  !  and  that  the  possession  of  the  whole  sea-eoast  could 
not  produce  that  effect.  We  explained  to  him  the  situa- 
tion of  Washington,  and  described  the  half  built  city,  and 
soon  convinced  him  that  the  capture  of  Washington,  was 
by  no  means  an  event  of  half  the  importance  of  the  cap-, 
tare  of  Albany,  or  New  York,  or  Baltimore,     We  all 


^^..f, 


h'  ■: 


¥■  ■ 


iW'j 


114 


JOURNAL. 


'M 


'■^k-  lih 


aa;recd  tliat  it  wotild  make  a  great  sound  in  Bns;1and,  and 
throughout  Europe,  but  that  it  was,  in  fact)  of  little  cou- 
sequence  to  the  United  iiitates. 

About  a.  week  after  we  entered  Plymouth  harbor,  tw» 
hundred  of  U8  were  drafted  to  be  sent  to  Dartmoor  Prison^ 
instead  of  being  sent,  as  we  expected,  to  America. 

We  were  conveyed  in  boats,  and  saw,  as  we  passed,  a 
number  of  men  of  war  on  Ihe  stocks  ;  and,  among  others, 
the  Lord  Vincent,  pierced  for  120  guns.  One  of  our  pris- 
oners told  the  lieutenant  that  he  was  in  that  battle  with 
Lord  St.  Vincent,  and  of  course  helped  him  gain  the  vic- 
tory, and  here  he  was  now  sailing  by  a  most  noble  ship, 
built  in  honor  of  that  famous  admiral,  on  his  way  to  a 
doleful  prison.  This  man  had  been  pressed  on  board  a 
British  man  of  war,  and  was  given  up  as  such ;  but  in- 
stead of  being  sent  home  as  he  ought,  he  was  detained  a 
prisoner  of  war ;  and,  yet  this  unfortunate  man  exposed 
his  life  in  fighting  for  the  British  oil'  Cape  St.  Vincents, 
as  much  as  the  noble  Lord  himself.  Such  is  the  differ- 
ence of  rewards  in  this  chequered  world  ! 

My  mind  was  too  much  oppressed  with  (he  melancholy 
prospect  of  Dartmoor  prison,  to  notice  particularly  the 
gallunt  show  of  ships,  and  the  beautiful  scenery  which  the 
dock  and  bay  of  Plymouth  afforded.  When  we  landed  a 
short  distance  from  the  dock,  we  were  received  by  a  file  of 
soldiers,  or  rather  two  files,  between  which  we  marched 
on.  This  was  the  first  time  we  touched  the  soil  of  Eng- 
land with  our  feet,  after  laying  under  its  shores  nearly  a 
year.  It  excited  singular  and  plaesnnt  sensations  to  be 
once  more  permitted  to  walk  on  the  earth,  although  sur- 
rounded by  soldiers,  and  going  to  prison.  The  old  women 
collected  about  us  with  their  cakes  and  ale,  and  as  we  all 
liad  a  little  mone;y  we  soon  emptied  their  jugs  and  baskets  ; 
and  their  cheering  beveridge  s«on  changed  our  sad  coun- 
tenances, and  as  we  marched  on  we  cheered  each  other. 
Our  march  drew  to  the  doors  and  windows  the  enchanting 
sight  of  fair  ladies  ;  compared  with  our  dirty  selves,  they 
looked  like  angels  peeping  out  of  Heaven  ;  and  yet  they 
were  neither  handsomer  or  neater  than  our  sweethearts 
and  sisters  in  our  own  dear  country. 

After  we  left  the  vireet,  w"  found  the  road  extremely 
dusty,  whicli  rendered  it  vei  v  uiipleasani  in  walking  close 
th  each  other.     Before  we  got  half  way  to  the  prisoi^ 


JOURNAL. 


140 


gland,  and 
'iittie  cou- 

irbor,  twft 

ior  Prison, 

ea. 

i  passed,  a 

n,a?  others, 

four  pris- 

lattle  with 

n  the  vic- 
loble  ship, 

way  to  a 
n  board  a 
»;  but  in- 
letained  a 
I  exposed 
Vincents, 
khe  diflTer- 

lancholj 
larly  th© 
^vhich  the 
landed  a 

7  a  file  of 
marched 
of  Eng- 

nearJy  a 
ns  to  be 
Ugh  sur- 
J  women 

8  we  all 
^asJwets  ; 
id  coun- 
h  other, 
hanting^ 
es,  tliej 
et  they 
Jth  carta 

renielj 
ig  close 
prison^ 


there  was  a  very  heavy  shower  of  rain,  so  that  by  the  lime 
we  arrived  there  we  looked  as  if  we  hail  been  waliowinoi; 
ill  the  mud.  Our  unl'ueling  conductors  maruhed  us  nine 
miles  before  they  allowed  us  to  rest,  never  once  consider- 
ing how  unfit  we  were,  from  our  long  confinement,  for  tra- 
velling. Wheie  we  were  allowed  to  stop,  a  butt  of  beer 
was  placed  in  a  cart  for  sale.  Had  British  prisoners  been 
marching  through  New-England,  a  butt  of  beer,  or  good 
cider  would  have  been  placed  fur  them  free  of  all  expense  ; 
but  old  England  is  not  -New-England  by  a  great  deaf,' 
whatever  Governor  Strong  may  think  of  his  adorable 
country  of  kings,  bishops  and  missionary  societies.  Here 
a  fresh  escort  of  soldiers  relieved  those  who  brought  ui 
from  iMymuuth.  The  commanding  officer  of  this  detach- 
ment undertook  to  drive  us  from  the  beer-cart  before  all  of 
us  had  a  taste  of  it  ;  he  rode  in  among  us,  and  flourished 
his  sword,  with  a  view  to  frighten  us  ;  but  we  refused  to 
stir  till   we  were  ready,  and  some  of  our  company  called 

him  a  damned  lobster  backed  ,  for  wishing  to  drive 

us  away  before  every  one  had  his  driuk.  The  man  was 
perplexed  and  knew  not  what  to  do.  At  last  the  booby 
did  what  he  ought  to  have  done  at  first — forced  the  beer- 
seller  to  drive  otT  his  cart ;  but  it  is  the  fate  of  British  of- 
ficers of  higher  rank  than  this  one,  to  think  and  act  at  last 
of  that  which  they  ought  to  have  thought  and  acted  upon 
at  first.  They  are  no  match  for  the  yankees,  in  contriv- 
ance or  in  execution.  This  beer  barrel  is  an  epitome  of 
ail  their  conduct  in  their  war  with  America.  What  old 
woman  put  the  idea  into  this  oflficer's  head  I  know  not; 
but  it  la  a  fact,  as  soon  as  the  beer  barrel  was  driven  ofl', 
we  were  all  ready  to  march  off  too!  And  few  companies 
of  vagabonds  in  England  ever  marched  otf  to  prison  in  bet- 
ter spirits;  we  cheered  one  another,  and  laughed  at  our 
profound  leader,  until  we  came  in  si^ht  of  the  black,  bleak, 
and  barren  moor,'  without  a  solitary  bush  or  blade  of 
grass.  Some  of  our  prisoners  swore  that  we  had  march- 
ed the  whole  length  of  England,  and  gut  into  Scotland. 
We  all  agreed  that  it  was  not  credible  that  such  a  hideous, 
barren  spot  could  be  any  where  found  in  England. 

Our  old  men-of-wars-men  suffered  the  most.  Many  of 
these  had  not  set  their  feet  on  the  earth  for  seven  years, 
and  they  had  lost  in  a  measure,  the  natural  operation  of 
their  fact  and  legs.     These  naval  veterans  loitered  b«« 


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liind,  attended  bj  a  guard.  In  ascending  a  bill  we  were 
some  distance  from  the  main  body,  and  by  turning  a  corner 
the  rear  u as  concealed  from  the  van.  Two  youn^  men 
took  advantage  of  this,  and  jumped  over  a  wall,  and  lay 
snug  under  it;  but  being  ob&erved,  the  guard  fired,  whieli 
alarmed  those  in  front,  Mhen  some  soldiers  pursued  them, 
and  seeing  the  impossibility  of  escaping,  the  young  men 
jumped  over  the  wail  again,  and  mixed  in  with  their  com- 
panions without  their  being  able  to  identify  their  persons. 
Ouf  driver  was  extremely  perplexed  and  alarmed  at  our 
daring  attempts. 

On  crawling  up  the  long  and  rag2;cd  hill,  we  became 
wearied,  and  refused  to  walk  so  fast  as  the  guard.  No 
prudent  officer  would  have  driven  men  on  as  we  were  driv- 
en. We  should  have  rested  every  two  or  three  miles.— 
The  sun  was  sinkini;;  below  the  horizon  when  we  gained 
the  top  of  the  hill  which  commanded  a  view  of  Dartmoor 
prison.  We  passed  through  a  small  collection  of  houses 
called  Princelown,  where  were  two  inns.  The  weather 
was  severe  after  the  shower,  and  we  saw  the  dark-hued 
prisons,  whose  sombre  and  doleful  aspect  chilled  our  blood. 
Yonder,  cried  one  of  our  companions,  is  the  residence  of 
four  thousand  five  hundred  men,  and  in  a  few  minutes  we 
shall  add  to  the  number  of  its  wretches.  Others  said,  in 
in'  that  place  will  be  saeriiieed  the  aspiring  feelings  of 
youth,  and  the  anxious  expectations  of  relatives.  There, 
>aid  1,  shall  we  bury  all  the  designs  of  early  emulation.  I 
never  felt  disheartened  before.  1  shed  tears  when  I  thought 
of  home,  and  of  my  wretched  situation,  and  I  cursed  the 
barbarity  of  a  people  among  whom  we  were  driven  more 
like  hogs  than  fellow  men  and  christians.  I  had  weather- 
ed adverse  gales  with  fortitude  ;  and  never  flinched  amidst 
severities.  "  .4  taught  bowstring,*^  was  ahvays  my  motto ; 
hut  here  I  gave  way,  for  a  moment,  to  despair,  and  wish- 
ed the  string  to  snap  asunder  and  end  my  misery  ;  for  I 
had  not  even  the  consolation  of  a  criminal  going  to  exe- 
cution to  brace  up  the  cord  of  life.  The  idea  of  lingering 
out  a  wretched  existence  in  a  doleful  prison,  dying    by 

J)iece-meals,  my  ilesh  wasting  by  hunger,  my  frame  ex- 
lausted  by  thirst,  and  my  spirits  broken  down  by  a  tyrant* 
and  by  jostling  with  misfortunes,  I  could  nnt  avoid.  If 
deaih.  instead" of  knocking  at  my  prison  door,  would  en- 
tar  it  at  once,  1  would  thank  the  goal  deliverer,    I  am  n»;y 


JOURNAL. 


147 


eomforted  with  the  eopviction,  that  nothing  but  an  early 
religious  education  could  have  preserved  me  at  this,  and 
some  other  times  of  my  misery,  from  destroying  myself. 

We  soon  arrived  at  the  gates  of  this  very  exteusive  pri> 
son,  and  were  admitted  into  the  first  yard,  for  it  has  seve- 
ral. We  there  answered  to  the  call  of  our  names  ;  and  at 
length  passed  through  the  iron  gates  to  prison  No.  7.  We 
requested  the  turnkey  to  take  in  our  baggage,  as  it  con« 
tained  our  bedding ;  but  it  was  neglected,  and  rained  on 
during  the  night;  for  on  this  bleak  and  drizly  mountain 
there  are  not  more  than  ninety  fair  days  in  the  year,  it 
took  us  several  days  to  dry  our  duds. 

The  moment  we  entered  the  dark  prison,  we  found  our- 
selves jambed  in  with  a  multitude  ;  one  calling  us  to  come 
this  way,  another  that ;  some  halloing,  swearing  and 
cursing,  s('  that  I  did  not  know,  for  a  moment,  but  what  I 
had  died  through  fatigue  and  hard  usage,  and  was  actual- 
ly in  the  regions  of  the  damned.  Oh,  what  a  horrid  night 
1  here  passed  1  \ 

The  floors  of  this  reproach  to  Old  England  were  of 
stone,  damp  and  mouldy,  and  smelling  like  a  tran^sport. 
Here  we  had  to  lay  down  and  sleep  after  a  most  weary 
inarch  of  15  miles.  What  apology  can  be  made  for  not 
having  things  prepared  for  our  comfort  ?  Those  who  have 
been  enslaved  in  Algiers  found  things  very  diiferent.  The 
food  and  the  lodging  were  in  every  respect  superior  among 
the  Mahometans,  than  among  these  boasting  christians, 
and  their  general  treatment  infinitely  more  humane;  some 
of  our  companions  had  been  prisoners  among  the  Barhary 
powers,  and  they  describe  them  as  vastly  more  considerate 
than  the  English. 

After  passing  a  dreadful  night,  we  next  day  had  oppor- 
tunity of  examining  our  prison.  It  had  iron  stancbt-ons, 
like  those  in  stables  for  horses,  on  which  hammocks  were 
hung.  The  windows  had  iron  gratings,  and  the  bars  of  the 
doors  seemed  calculated  to  resist  the  force  of  men  and  of 
time.  These  things  had  a  singular  effect  on  such  of  us,  as 
had,  from  our  childhood,  associated  the  ide^  of  liberty 
with  the  name  of  Old  England  ;  but  a  man  must  travel  be- 
yond the  smoke  of  his  own  chimney  to  acquire  correct 
ideas  of  the  characters  of  men  and  of  nations.-— We  howev- 
er saw  the  worst  of  it  at  first,  for  every  day  our  residenea 
appeared  less  disagreeable.  ^.^ 


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JOURNAL. 


We  arrived  here  the  Itth  of  October,  and  our  lot  wai 
lietter  than  that  of  thirty  of  our  companions,  who  came  on 
a  little  after  us  from  Plymouth.  These  30  men  were  sent 
from  the  West-Indief ,  and  had  no  descriptive  lists,  and  it 
was  necessary  that  these  men  should  be  measured  and  de* 
scribed  as  to  stature,  complexion,  &e. — Capt.  Shortland 
therefore  ordered  them  to  be  shut  up  in  the  prison  No.  6. 
This  was  a  more  cold,  dreary  and  comfortless  pia«e  than 
No.  7.  Their  bed  was  nothing  but  the  cold  damp  stones, 
and  being  in  total  darkness  they  dare  not  walk  about. 
These  30  men  had  been  imprisoned  at  Barbadoes,  and  they 
had  supposed  that  when  they  arrived  at  this  famous  birth 
place  of  liberty,  they  should  not  be  excluded  from  all  her 
blessings.  They  ^ad  sufiered  much  at  Barbadoes,  and 
they  expected  a  different  treatment  in  England ;  but  alas ! 
Capt.  8hortlaud  at  once  dissipated  the  illusion  and  shew- 
ed himself  what  Britons  realty  are.  The  next  morning  they 
were  taken  up  to  Capt.  Shortland's  office  to  be  described, 
and  marked  and  numbered.  One  of  the  thirty,  an  old  and 
respectable  Captain  of  an  American  ship,  complained  of 
his  usage,  and  told  Shortland  that  he  had  been  several 
times  a  prisoner  of  war,  but  never  experienced  such  bar- 
barous treatment  before.  The  man  only  replied  that  their 
not  having  their  beds  was  the  fault  of  the  Turnkey  ;  as  if 
that  could  ever  be  admitted  as  an  excuse  among  military 
men.  [|C7*  For  a  minute  description  of  Dartmoor  Prison, 
see  tke  engraving. 2       ;;^' 

Dartmoor  is  a  dreary  spot  of  itself;  it  is  rendered  more 
so  by  the  westerly  winds  blowing  from  the  atlantic  ocean, 
which  have  the  same  quality  and  effects  as  the  easterly 
wind,  blowing  from  the  same  ocean,  are  known  to  have  in 
New-England.  This  highland  receives  the  sea  mist  and 
fogs,  and  they  settle  on  our  skins  with  a  deadly  dampness. 
Here  reigns  more  than  two  thirds  of  the  year,  the  Scotch 
misty  which  is  famous  to  a  proverb.  This  moor  affords 
nothing  for  subsistence  or  pleasure.  Rabbits  eannot  live 
on  it.  Birds  fly  from  it,  and  it  is  inhabited,  according  to 
the  belief  of  the  most  vulgar,  by  ghosts  and  daemons  ;  to 
which  will  now  doubtless  be  added,  the  troubled  ghosts 
of  the  murdered  American  pritioners ;  and  hereafter  will 
be  distinctly  seen  the  tormented  spirit  of  the  bloody  Capt. 
Shortland,  clanking  his  chains,  weeping,  wailing  and 
gnashing  his  teeth  !    It  is  a  fact  that  the  mat-ket  people 


m 


\i    f 


JOURNAL. 


149 


have  not  sufficient  courage  to  pass  this  moor  in  the  nigfit. 
They  are  always  sure  to  leave  Princetown  by  day  light, 
not  having  the  resolution  of  passing  this  dreary,  barren 
and  heaven-abandoned  spot  in  the  dark.  Before  the  bloody 
massacre  of  our  countrymen,  this  unhallowed  spot  was 
believed,  by  common  superstition,  to  belong  to  the  Devil. 

Certain  it  is,  that  the  common  people  in  this  neighbor- 
hood were  impressed  with  the  notion  that  Dartmoor  was  a 
place  less  desirable  to  mortals,  and  more  under  the  influ- 
ence of  evil  spirits,  than  any  other  spot  in  England.  I 
shall  only  say  that  I  found  it.  take  it  all  in  all,  a  less  disa- 
greeable prison  than  the  ships  ;  the  life  of  a  pru- 
dent, industrious,  well  behaved  man  might  here  be 
rendered  pretty  easy,  for  a  prison  life,  as  was  the 
the  case  with  some  of  our  own  countrymen,  and  some 
Frenchmen  ;  but  the  yonog,  the  idle,  the  giddy,  fun  mak- 
ing youth  generally  e-^  ?d  such  fruit  as  he  sowed. 
Gambling  was  the  wide  ^'  to  vice  and  disorder,  and  in 
this  Frenchmen  took  th^  ..^d.  These  men  would  play- 
away  every  thing  they  possessed  beyond  the  clothes  to  keep 
them  decent.  They  have  been  known  to  game  away  a 
month's  provision,  and  when  they  had  lost  it,  would  shirk 
and  steal  for  a  month  after  for  their  subsistence.  A 
man'  with  po'.ne  money  in  his  pocket  might  live  pretty  well 
through  the  day  in  Dartmoor  Prison,  there  being  shops  and 
stalls  where  every  little  article  cou4d  be  obtained;  but  added 
to  this  we  had  a  good  and  constant  market,  and  the  bread 
and  meat  supplied  by  government  were  not  bad  ;  and  as 
good  I  presume  as  that  given  to  British  prisoners  by  our 
own  government ;  had  our  lodging  and  prison-house  been 
equal  to  our  food,  1  never  should  have  complained.  The 
establishment  was  blessed  with  a  good  man  for  a  physi- 
cian, named  M'Garth,  an  Irishman,  a  tall  lean  gentleman 
with  one  eye,  but  of  a  warm  and  good  heart.  We  never  shall 
eease  to  admire  his  disposition,  nor  forget  his  humanity. 

The  Frenchmen  and  our  prisoners  did  not  agree  very 
well.  They  q^iarrelled  and  sometimes  fought,  and  they 
carried  their  diiferences  to  that  length,  that  it  was  deemed 
proper  to  erect  a  wall  to  separate  them,  like  so  many  game 
cocks  in  dift'erent  yards.  When  this  Depot  was  garrison- 
ed by  Highlanders,  these  Scotchmen  took  part  with  the  A- 
Diericans  against  the  French.  Here  the  old  presbyterian 
principle  of  affinity  operated  against  the  papal  manof  siii. 
13 


i  I 


'i 


(         V  ' 


150 


JOURNAL, 


.K.^ll! 


1-    Lll»>-»_(  'f ' 


It  cannot  be  denied  lliere  is  a  deep  rooted  liatred  between 
the  Briton  and  the  Frenchman. 

While  at  Dartmoor  Prison,  there  came  certain  French 
■officers  wearing  the  white  cockade;  their  object  seemed  to 
be  to  converse  with  the  prisoners  and  to  persuade  them  to 
declare  lor  Louis  18th  ;  but  they  could  not  prevail;  the 
Frenchmen  shouted  vive  I'Empereur !  Their  attachment  to 
Bonaparte  was  remarkably  strong;.  He  must  have  been  a 
man  of  wonderful  powers  to  attach  all  ranks  so  strongly  to 
him.  Before  the  officers  left  the  pliice,  these  Frenchmen 
hoisted  up  a  little  dog  with  the  white  cockade  tied  under 
his  tail.  Soon  after  this  the  French  officers,  who  appear- 
ed to  be  men  of  some  consideration  left  the  prison. 

I  have  myself  hiid  nothing  particular  to  complain  of, 
but  the  prisoners  here  speak  of  Captain  Shortland  as  the 
most  detestable  of  men,  and  they  bestow  on  him  the  vilest 
and  most  abusive  epithets.  The  prisoners  began  to  dig  a 
hole  under  prisan  No.  6,  and  had  made  considerable  pro- 
gress towards  the  outer  wall,  when  a  man,  who  came  from 
Newbury-Port  betrayed  them  to  Capt.  ^hortland  This 
man  had,  it  was  said,  changed  his  name  in  America,  on 
account  of  forgery^ — Be  that  as  it  may,  he  was  sick  at 
Chatham  where  we  paid  him  every  attention,  and  subscrib- 
ed money  for  procuring  him  the  means  of  comfort.  Short- 
land  gave  him  two  guineas,  and  sent  him  to  Ireland,  or  the 
prisoners  would  have  hanged  him  for  a  traitor  to  his  coun- 
trymen. The  hypocritical  scoundrel's  excuse  was  con- 
science and  humanity,  for  he  told  Shortland  that  we  in- 
tended to  murder  him,  and  every  one  else  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Shortland  said  he  know  better;  that  he  was  fear- 
ful of  our  escaping,  but  never  had  aviy  apprehensions  of 
personal  injury  from  an  American  :  that  they  delighted  in 
plaguing  him  and  contriving  the  means  of  escape,  but  he 
never  saw  a  cruel  or  murderous  disposition  in  any  of  them. 

The  instant  Capt.  Shortland  discovered  the  attempt  to 
escape  by  digging  a  subterraneous  passage,  he  drove  all 
the  prisoners  into  the  yard  of  No.  1,  making  them  take 
u their  baggage  with  them;  and  in  a  few  days  after,  when 
he  thought  they  might  have  begun  another  hole,  but  had 
not  time  to  complete  it,he  moved  them  into  anotheryard  and 
prison,  and  so  lie  kept  moving  them  from  one  prison  tu 
the  other,  and  took  great  credit  to  himself  for  his  contriv- 
AUGe»aiid  in  this  way  he  barrassed  onr  poor  fellows  until  the 


^^ 


JOURNAL 


151 


day  before  onr  arrival  at  the  prison.  He  liad  said  that  he 
was  resolved  not  to  suffer  them  to  remain  in  the  same  build- 
ing; and  yard  more  than  ten  days  at  a  time,  and  this  was  a 
hardship  they  resolved  not  voluntarily  to  endure ;  for  the  re- 
moval of  hammocks  and  furniture  and  every  little  article, 
was  an  intolerable  {grievance  ;  and  the  more  the  prisoners 
appeared  (»estered.  t!ie  j^reater  was  the  enjoyment  of  Short- 
l.md.  It  was  observed  that  whent'ver,  in  these  removals, 
therewere  much  jamming  and  squeezing  and  contentions 
for  places,  it  gave  this  man  pleasure;  but  that  the  ease 
and  comfort  of  the  prisoners  gave  him  pain.  The  united 
opinion  of  the  prisoners  was,  that  he  was  a  very  bad  heart- 
ed man.  He  woiihl  often  stand  on  the  military  walk,  or 
in  the  market  square,  wlienever  there  was  any  difference, 
or  tumult,  and  enjoy  the  s^ene  with  malicious  satisfaction. 
He  appeared  to  delight  in  exposing  prisoners  in  rainy 
weather,  without  sufficient  reason.  This  has  sent  many  of 
our  poor  fellows  to  the  grave,  and  would  have  sent  more 
had  it  not  been  for  the  benevolence  and  skill  of  Dr.  Me 
Garth.  We  thought  Miller  and  Osmore  skilled  in  tor- 
menting, but  Shortland  exceeded  them  both  by  a  devili&h 
deal.  The  prisoners  related  to  me  several  instances  of 
cool  and  deliberate  acts  of  torment,  disgraceful  to  a  gov- 
ernment of  chpistians^  J  for  the  character  and  general  con- 
duct of  this  commander  could  not  be  concealed  from  them. 
He  wore  the  British  colours  on  his  house,  and  acted  under 
this  emblem  of  sovereijjntv. 

It  was  customary  to  count  over  the  prisoners  twice  a 
week  ;  and  after  the  sweepers  had  brushed  out  the  prisons, 
the  guard  would  send  to  the  commander  that  they  were  all 
ready  for  his  inspection  ;  on  these  occasions,  Shortland 
very  seldom  omitted  staying  away  as  long  as  he  conven- 
iently could,  merely  to  vex  the  prisoners,  and  they  at  length 
expressed  their  sense  of  it ;  for  he  would  keep  them  stand- 
ing until  they  were  weary.  At  last  they  determined  not 
to  submit  to  it ;  and  after  waiting  a  sufficient  time,  they 
made  a  simultaneous  rush  forward,  and  so  forced  their  pas- 
sage back  into  their  prison-house.  To  punish  this  act, 
Sliortland  stopped  the  country  people  from  coming  into 
market  for  two  days.  At  this  juncture  we  arrived  ;  and 
as  the  increase  of  numbers  increased  our  obstinacy,  th& 
Captain  began  to  relax,  and  after  that,  he  came  to  inspect 
the  prisoner',  as  soon  as  they  were  paraded  for  that  pur- 


''i 


::-•( 


li 


'illj- 


.:fc'-i 


152 


JOURNAL 


i1 


pose.  It  was  easy  to  perceive  that  the  prisoners  had,  id  a 
great  measure  conquered  the  hard  hearted,  and  vindictive 
Capt.  Shortland. 

The  roof  of  the  prison  to  which  we  were  consigned,  was 
very  leaky,  and  it  rained  on  this  dreary  mountain  almost 
continually,  place  our  beds  wherever  we  could,  they  were 
generally  wet.  We  represented  this  to  Capt.  Shortland, 
and  to  our  complaint  was  added  that  of  the  worthy  and  hu- 
mane Dr.  M'Garth,  but  it  produced  no  effect,  so  that  to  the 
ordinary  miseries  of  a  prison,  we,  for  a  long  time  endured 
the  additional  one  of  wet  lodgings,  which  sent  many  of  our 
countrymen  to  their  graves. 

We  owe  much  to  the  humanity  of  Dr.  M*Garth,  a  very 
worthy  man,  and  a  native  of  Ireland.  Was  M'Garth  com' 
mander  of  this  Depot,  there  would  be  no  difliculty  with 
the  prisoners.  They  would  obey  him  through  affection 
and  respect ;  because  he  considers  us  rational  beings,  with 
minds  cultivated  like  his  own,  and  susceptible  of  grati- 
tude, and  habituated  to  do,  and  receive  acts  of  kindness  ; 
whereas  the  great  Capt.  Shortland  considers  us  all  as  a 
base  set  of  men,  degraded  below  the  rank  of  Englishmen, 
towards  whom  nothing  but  rigor  should  be  extended.  He 
acted  on  this  false  idea,  and  has  reaped  the  bitter  fruit  of 
his  own  ill  judged  conduct.  He  might,  by  kind  and  re- 
spectful usage,  have  led  the  Americans  to  any  thing  just 
and  honorable,  but  it  was  not  in  his  power,  nor  all  the  Cap- 
tains in  his  nation  to  force  them  to  acknowledge  and  qui- 
etly submit  to  his  tyranny. 

Dr.  M*Garth  was  a  very  worthy  man,  and  every  prison- 
er loved  him  ;  but  M'Farlane,  his  assistant,  a  Scotchman, 
was  the  reverse  ;  in  dressing,  or  bleeding,  or  in  any  opera- 
tion, he  would  handle  a  prisoner  with  a  brutal  roughness, 
that  conveyed  the  idea  that  he  was  giving  way  to  the  feel- 
ings of  revenge,  or  national  hatred.  Cannot  a  Scotchman 
testify  his  unnatural  loyalty  to  the  present  reigning  family 
of  England  without  treating  an  American  with  cruelly 
and  contempt? 

Dr.  Dobson,  the  superintendant-phy~  ian  of  the  Hospit- 
al ship  at  Chatham,  was  a  very  wo',  ,  and  very  skillful 
gentleman.  We  Americans  ou'^at  n.ver  to  forget  his 
goodness  towards  us.  Some  of  js  esteem  him  full  as  high 
as  Dr.  M'Garth,  and  some  more  highly.  They  are  both 
however,  worthy  men,  and  deserve  well  of  this  country. 


1  ■  If 


JOURKAfi, 


15.1 


Tliei'o  is  nothlna;  mpn  vary  more  in  than  in  their  opinion  of 
and  uttacliment  tu  piiysiciiins.  Dohson  and  M'Garth  de- 
serve medalii  of  s^old,  and  hearts  of  gratitude,  for  their 
kind  attention  to  u»  ail. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


The  establishment  at  Chatham  is  broken  up,  and  the 
kst  ot  tlie  prisoners  were  marched  from  Plymouth  to  this- 
place,  the  3l)lh  of  November.  They  were  marched  from 
that  place  to  this,  in_one  day,  half  leg  deep  in  mud.  Some 
lost  their  shoes  ;  others,  to  preserve  them,  took  them  o\\\ 
and  carried  them  in  their  hands.  When  they  arrived 
here,  they  uere  indeed  objects  of  pity  ;  nevertheless  they 
were  immediately  shut  up  in  a  eold,  damp  prison,  without 
any  bedding,  or  any  of  the  ordinary  conveniences,  until 
they  could  be  examined  and  described  in  the  commander's 
books  ;  afier  which  they  were  permitted  to  mix  with  the 
rest  of  their  countrymen.  We  found  many  of  them,  the 
day  after  tlieir  arrival,  unable  to  walk,  by  reason  of  their 
too  long  protracted  march,  in  a  very  bad  road»  A  pru- 
dent drover  would  not  have  risked  his  cattle  by  driving 
them  through  such  a  road  in  a  few  hours.  Such  a  thing 
never  was  done  in  America,  with  British  prisoners. 

I  find  all  the  prisoners  here  deeply  exasperated  against 
Captain  Shortland,  and  too  much  prejudiced  to  hear  any 
^hing  in  his  favor.  I  presume  they  have  reason  for  it. 
As  I  have:  but  just  arrived,  1  have  had  but  little  opportu- 
nity of  seeing  and  judging  his  conduct.  Instead  of  his  be- 
ing a  bad  hearted  man,  1  am  disposed  to  believe  that  tiie 
fault  is  in  his  understanding  and  education.  I  suspect 
that  he  is  a  man  of  narrow  views  ;  that  he  has  not  sntli- 
cient  information  or  capacity,  to  form  a  right  judgment  of 
the  peculiar  cast  and  character  of  the  people  under  his 
charge.  He  has  never,  perhaps,  considered,  that  these 
descendants  of  Englishmen,  the  free  inhabitants  of  the  new 
world,  have  been  born  and  brought  up  in,  if  we  may  speak 
so,  Indian  freedom  ;  on  whicii  freedom  has  been  superin- 
tluced  an  education  purely  democ;'atic,  in  schools  where 
la* 


il     ■':! 


'   n 


#eM:V 


154> 


JOURNAL 


i 


I'" 


I  .. 


Km  ' 

i 


^'1    i 


^1  ''S 


I" 


i       !: 


?:'l| 


I 

li        I 

1 

.'  ■  '         i 


1 1 


li' 


degradinii;  punishments  are  unknown,  where  if  a  school 
master  exercised  the  severity  common  in  Eiii^lish  ami 
German  schools,  they  would  tie  the  master's  hands  wiih 
his  own  bell-rope.  He  has  never  considered  tl«vt  cyr  po- 
tent militia  choose  their  own  officers,  and  that  tne  people 
choose  all  their  officers  and  leaders  from  among  them- 
selves ;  and  there  are  very  few  men  indeed,  none,  per- 
haps, in  IVew  England,  who  would  refuse  to  shake  hand!) 
with  a  decent  yeoman.  It  is  probable  that  Capt.  Short- 
land  has  never  reflected  that  there  are  fewer  grades  of 
men  between  the  lowest  white  man  under  his  charge,  and 
the  highest  in  America,  than  there  are  between  him  and 
the  highest  ranks  in  England.  He  has  never  considered 
the  similarity  between  the  ancient  Roman  republican,  and 
the  republican  of  the  United  States  of  America  ;  nor  why 
both  republics  deemed  it  abhorrent  to  inflict  stripes  on 
their  citizens.  Shortland  had  not  sufficient  sagacity  to 
discover  (hat  playfulness,  fun  and  frolic,  formed  a  strong 
trait  in  the  character  of  the  American  sailo'  and  militia 
man,  for  they  had  hardly  become,  what  is  led  in  Eu- 
rope, soldiers  ;  drilling  and  discipline  had  not  obliterated 
the  free  and  easy  carrfage  of  a  bold  and  fearless  Yankee. 
Sir  Guy  Carlton,  afterwards  Lord  Dorchester,  was 
Governor  of  Canada,  during  (he  revolutionary  war,  and 
proved  himself  a  ivi^e  man.  He  penetrated  the  Ameri- 
can character,  and  treated  the  American  prisoners  cap- 
tured in  Can.tda,  accordingly  ;  and  by  doing  so,  he  came 
near  breaking  up  our  army  ;  for  our  prisoners  were  soft- 
ened and  subdued  by  his  kindness  and  humanity ;  he 
sent  them  home  well  clothed,  and  well  fed,  and  nies^t 
of  them  declared  they  never  would  fight  against  Sir  Guy 
Carlton.  He  knew  the  American  character  thoroughly, 
and  was  convinced  that  harshness  and  severity  would 
have  no  other  effect  than  to  excite  revenge  and  hatred. 
On  the  other  hand  our  prisoners  could  have  no  very  great 
respect  for  a  captain,  an  officer,  which  they  themselves 
created  by  their  votes,  at  pleasure  ;  add  to  this,  that  sev- 
eral of  the  prisoners  had  the  title  of  captain  in  their  own 
counlry.  Had  the  commander  of  Dartmoor  Prison  been 
an  old  woman,  the  Americans  would  have  respected  her 
r»ex  and  years,  and  obeyed  her  commands ;  but  they  dt  s- 
pised  and  hated  Shortland,  for  his  deficiency  of  head, 
heait,  ttJidcdiitalioa  j  frem  all  which  oria-iuiitctl  those  sad 


JOURNAL, 


±99 


1 


events  which  have  disgraced  one  nation,  and  exasperated 
the  other  forever.  Shortland  may  be  excust'd,  when  il  is 
consiidered  that  England  lost  her  colonies  by  not  studyinti^ 
the  American  character;  and  the  same  inattention  to  the 
natural  operations  of  the  human  heart,  is  now  raisin^  her 
gradually  up  to  be  the  first  naval  power  on  the  terraque- 
ous globe  ;  and  thus  much  for  contempt. 

There  was  an  order  that  all  lights  should  be  put  out 
by  eight  o'clock  at  night,  in  every  prison,  and  it  was 
doubtless  proper  ;  but  this  order  was  carried  into  execu- 
tion with  a  rigor  bordering  on  barbarity.  On  the  It&ni 
glimpse  of  light  discoverable  in  the  prison,  the  guard 
would  fire  in  amongst  us,  and  several  were  shot.  Sev- 
eral Frenchmen  were  wounded.  This  story  was  told— 
that  a  French  captain  of  a  privateer,  the  night  after  he 
first  came,  was  undressing  him,  by  his  hammock,  when 
the  sentry  cried,  "  Out  lights  P^  The  Frenciiman  not 
underiitandiiig  English,  kept  it  burning ;  the  sentry  tired, 
and  scattered  his  brains  over  the  place  ;  but  this  did  not 
occur  while  1  was  there  ;  but  this  i  aver,  that  several 
were  shot,  and  I  wonucred  that  many  were  not  killed,  and 
I  was  shocked  at  the  barbarity  of  the  order. 

About  this  time,  the  Derbyshire  militia  were  relieved 
by  a  regiment  of  regulars,  who  had  been  in  Spain.  They 
were  chiefly  Irish,  and  treated  us  better  than  we  were 
treated  by  the  militia.  They  had  infinitely  more  gener- 
osity and  manliness,  as  well  as  more  intelligence.  They 
acted  plays  in  the  cock  loft  of  No.  5.  They  have  good 
music,  and  tolerable  scenery,  and  charge  six  pence  for  ad- 
mission, to  defray  the  expense.  This  is  a  very  pleasant 
way  of  making  the  British  soldier  forget  his  slavery,  and 
the  American  prisoner  his  bondage.  These  generous 
hearted  Irishmen  would  sometimes  give  us  a  song  in  hon- 
or of  oiir  naval  victories.  O,  how  we  did  long  to  be  at 
liberty,  when  we  heard  songs  in  honor  of  the  Constitution 
and  of  the  United  States. 

Some  men  are  about  to  be  sent  off  to  Dartmouth,  to  re- 
turn to  the  United  States;  this  has  occasioned  us  to  write 
letters  to  our  friends  and  connexions;  but  Capt.  Shortland 
is  very  jealous  on  this  head  ;  he  will  not  allow  us  to  write 
to  any  of  the  neighboring  country  people.  The  English 
dare  not  trust  their  own  people,  much  more  the  American 
oaptivest 


\ 

'1. 

;i  ■ 
I,' 

'i- 

:  I- 

-  ■■'ti^^l 


.^if 


ISQ 


JOURNA 


M    « 


<l  '■ 


This  is  the  lulter  part  of*  the  month  of  November  ;  ami 
the  weather  hus  been  gem  rally  rainy,  dark,  liinmHl  ami 
fotifgy  ffionjetiines  we  coiiltl  hurilly  see  the  sciiliiu'la  on 
the  Mails.  Sorrow  and  sadness  within  :  gloom,  i'o^.  or 
drizzly  rain  withont.  If  the  comntissiont^rs  at  (Jhcnt  do 
not  soon  make  peaoe^  nor  establish  an  exchange,  we  situll 
he  lost  to  our  country,  and  to  hope.  I'hp  oev^spaiiers  now 
and  then  etiliveii  us  with  the  prospect  of  peuce.  We  are 
told  that  growing  dissentions  at  Vienna  wiii  iiiduce  Great 
Britain  to  get  rid  of  her  transatlantic  enemy,  in  order  to 
combat  those  nearer  home.  W  henever  we  see  in  the 
newspapers  an  article  captioned  '*  J\/ewit  from  Ghent,''' 
we  devour  it  with  our  eyes,  but  instead  of  substance.  L;en- 
erully  find  it  empty  wind.  We  are  wearied  out.  1  speak 
for  myself,  and  1  hear  the  same  expression  from  others. 
^V inter  is  commencing,  to  add  to  our  miseries.  Poor 
clothing,  miserable  lodging,  poor,  and  inadeqnati^  food, 
long  dismal  nights,  darkness,  foul  air,  bad  smells,  the 
groans  of  the  siek  and  distressed,  the  execrations  and 
curses  of  the  half  distracted  prisoner,  the  unfeeling  con- 
duct of  our  keepers  and  commander — all,  all,  all  conspire 
to  fill  up  the  cup  of  our  sorrow  ;  but  we  hope  that  one 
drop  will  not  be  added  after  it  is  brim  full,  for  thep  it  will 
run  over,  and  death  wili  follow. 

December,  Nothing  new  worth  recording  ;  every  day 
and  every  night  brings  the  same  sad  picture,  the  same 
heart  sinking  impressions.  Until  now,  1  could  not  believe 
that  misfortune  and  confinement,  with  a  deprivation  of 
the  accustomed  food,  ease  and  liberty  of  our  own  dear 
country,  could  have  wrought  such  a  change  in  the  human 
person.  The  young  have  not  only  acquired  wrinkles,  but 
appear  dried  up,  and  contracted  in  body  and  mind.  I  can 
easily  conceive  that  a  few  generations  of  the  human  spe- 
cies, passed  in  such  misery  and  confinement,  would  pro- 
duce a  race  of  beings,  veiy  inferior  to  what  we  now  are. 
The  sailor,  however,  suffers  less  in  appearance  than  we 
landsmen  ;  for  my  short  cruise  in  a  privateer  does  not  en- 
title me  to  the  name  of  a  sailor.  How  often  have  I  re- 
flected on  my  rash  adventure  !  To  leave  the  house  of 
plenty,  surrounded  with  every  thing  comfortable,  merely 
to  change  the  scene,  and  see  the  watery  world.  To  quit 
my  paternal  roof,  half  educated,  to  dress  wounds,  and  cut 
9ft*  limbs  ef  those  who  might  he  mutilated,  w  as  about  a» 


[I 


M 


JOURNAL. 


±57 


mad  a  scheme  as  ever  giddy  youth  engaged  in.  But  re- 
pining; will  do  no  good.  1  must  not  despair,  but  make  the 
best  of  my  hard  lot.  If  I  have  lost  a  portion  of  ordinary 
education,  1  have  passed  the  severer  school  of  misfortune  ; 
and  should  I  live  to  return  to  America,  1  must  strive  te 
turn  these  hardships  to  the  best  advantage.  He  who  has 
not  met  adversity,  has  not  seen  the  most  profitable  part  of 
human  life. 

There  were  times,  during  my  captivity,  especially  in 
the  long  and  cheerless  nights,  when  home,  and  all  its  en- 
dearments, rushed  on  my  mind,  and  when  I  reflected 
on  my  then  situation,  1  burst  into  tears  and  wept 
aloud.  It  was  then  I  was  fearful  that  I  should  lose  my 
reason,  and  never  recover  it.  Many  a  time  have  1  thought 
myself  into  a  fever,  my  tongue  covered  with  a  furr,  and 
my  brain  seemed  burning  up  within  my  skull.  It  was 
company  that  preserved  me.  Had  I  been  alone,  I  should 
have  been  raving  distracted.  I  had  committed  no  crime  ; 
1  was  in  the  service  of  my  country,  in  a  just  and  necessary 
war,  declared  by  the  people  of  the  United  States  through 
their  representatives  in  Congress,  and  proclaimed  to  the 
v.orld  by  our  supreme  executive  oHicer,  James  Madison. 
On  this  subject  I  cannot  help  remarking  the  ignorance  of 
the  people  of  England.  In  their  newspapers,  and  in  their 
conversation,  you  will  constantly  find  this  idea  held  up, 
that  the  war  was  the  work  of  Mr.  Madison  and  Bona- 
parte. This  shows  their  ignorance  of  the  aftairs  of  our  coun- 
try. They  are  too  ignorant  to  talk  with  on  the  constitution 
of  our  government,  and  on  the  character  and  conduct  of 
our  adtninistration.  It  is  no  wonder  that  they  are  aston- 
ished at  our  victories,  by  sea  and  by  land,  when  they  aro 
so  totally  ignorant  of  our  country,  of  its  endless  resources, 
of  its  invincible  republican  spirit,  of  its  strung  govern- 
ment, founded  on  the  affections  of  the  people,  and  of  the 
vigor  and  all  eommadding  intellect  that  pervades  and  di- 
rects the  whole. 

On  the  28th  of  this  month,  December,  1815,  the  news 
arrived  here  that  a  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  the  24th 
instant  at  Ghent.  After  a  momentary  stupor,  acclamations 
ol'joy  burst  forth  from  every  mouth.  It  flew  like  wild  fire 
through  the  prison;  and  peace!  peace!  peace!  echoed 
throughout  these  dreary  regions.  To  know  that  we  were 
iooQ  to  return  home,  produced  a  sensation  of  joy  beyond 


.  1 


TH- 


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"  !^  '. 


.      v:, 


"M 


i0a 


JOURXAI, 


■•? 


the  powers  of  expression.  Some  scruamcil,  hollowecl,  diui 
ccfl,  sung,  and  capered,  like  so  many  l'>enrliuR>M.  OiImt.v 
stood  in  amaze,  with  their  hands  in  their  pockets,  as  if 
doiihtful  of  its  trntli.  In  by  far  the  (greater  part,  howev- 
er, it  gave  a  glow  of  health  and  animation  to  the  wan 
cheek  of  the  half  sick,  and,  hitherto,  cheerless  prisoner. 
Some  unforgiving  spirits  hail  the  Joyful  event  as  hringinj; 
them  nearer  the  period  of  revenge,  which  they  longed  to 
exercise  on  some  of  their  tyrannical  keepers.  Many  who 
had  meditated  escape,  and  had  hoarded  up  every  penny 
for  that  event,  now  brought  it  forth  to  spend  in  celebration 
of  their  regular  deliverance.  Even  hard  hearted  Short- 
land  appeared  to  bend  from  the  haughty  severity  of  his 
jailor-like  manner,  and  can  now  speak  to  an  American  as 
if  he  were  of  the  same  species  with  himself.  He  has  even 
allowed  us  to  hoist  our  national  colors  on  those  prisons, 
and  appears  not  to  be  offended  at  the  sound  of  mirth  and 
hilarity,  which  now  echoes  throughout  the^e  extensive 
mansions.  I  say  extensive,  for  1  suppose  the  whole  of 
these  prisons,  yards>  hospitals,  stores  and  houses,  are 
spread  over  twenty  acres  «f  ground.     [See  the  plate.] 

We  calculate  that  the  ratification  ol*  the  treaty  by  the 
president  of  the  United  States,  will  arrive  in  England  l)y 
the  1st  of  April,  at  whi«h  period  there  will  not  he  an 
American  left  in  this  place.  The  very  thoughts  of  it  keep 
us  from  sleeping.  Amidst  this  joy  for  peace,  and  for  the 
near  prospect  of  our  seeing,  once  more,  our  dear  America, 
there  in  not  a  man  among  us  but  feels  disposed  to  try  again 
the  tug  of  war  with  the  Britons,  should  she  impress  and 
flog  our  seamen,  or  instigate  the  savages  of  the  wilderness 
to  scalp  and  tomahawk  the  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers. 
This  war,  and  this  harsh  imprisonment,  will  add  vigor  to 
our  arms,  should  the  people  of  America  again  declare,  by 
their  representatives  in  congress,  that  individnul  oppres- 
sion, or  the  nation's  wrongs,  render  it  expedient  to  sail  or 
march  against  a  foe,  whose  tender  mercies  are  cruelty. 
We  can  tell  our  countrymen,  when  we  return  home,  what 
the  Britons  are,  as  their  prisoners  can  tell  the  English 
what  the  Americans  are.  "  By  their  fruits  shall  ye  know 
them."    &Bt  fe 

During  this  month  a  number  of  prisoners  have  been  sent 
to  this  prison  from  Plymouth.  They  came  here  from  Hal- 
ifiix;  they  Mere  principally  seamen  taken  out  of  prizes^ 


.;0U11NAL. 


i:i% 


vliicli  tlic  l'iii(jjH«li  retook.  They  all  make  siinl!;\r  com- 
|)laiii(s  of  UdVAh  .JSiif^e,  !)a(l  and  very  scanty  foi»(I,  atui  no 
;itl«.*ntioii  f.u  I lieir  li"all}i  or  comfort.  Thoro  are  now,  at 
this  tk'pol,  about  Tivenfij-'ilires  Hundred  and  FiftijAr.iev- 
icans,  who  were  impressot).  pn'viouslv  to  the  war,  into  the 
1^'itish  service,  hy  Kiii^lisli  ships  uiul  Knr\;lis!i  prcss-n;an2;s. 
They  are  the  stoutest  and  most  hardy  looking;  men  in  the 
prison.  Tliis  is  easily  accounted  for.  Wnen  the  British 
j^o  on  board  ati  American  merchant  ship  to  look  for  En^- 
iish  sailors,  they  adopt  one  easy  rule,  vi/ — tliey  select  the 
stoutest,  most  hardy  and  healthy  looking^  men,  and  swear 
that  they  are  Knii;lishmen.  After  they  have  selected  one 
of  these  fine  fellows,  it  is  in  vain  that  he  (troduces  his  pro- 
tection, or  any  other  evidence  of  his  x\merican  birth  and 
citizen  ship. 

We  learn  from  these  seamen,  that  as  soon  as  conveyed 
on  board  the  British  men  of  war,  they  are  examined  as  to 
the  length  of  time  they  have  been  at  sea,  and  according  to 
the  knowledge  and  experience  they  appear  to  have,  they 
are  stationed  ;  and  if  they  grumble  at  the  duty  assigned 
them,  tliey  are  called  mutinous  rascals,  and  threatened 
with  the  cat ;  the  warrant  officers  are  charged  to  watch 
them  closely,  lest  they  should  attempt  to  pervert  the  crew 
and  to  prevent  them  from  sending  letters  from  the  ship  to 
their  friends.  Should  any  letters  be  detected  on  them, 
the  sailors. are  charged,  on  pain  of  the  severest  punish- 
ment, to  deliver  them  to  some  of  the  commissioned  officers. 

If  they  complained  of  their  hard  fate  to  their  messmates, 
they  were  liable  to  punishment,  and  if  they  attempted  to 
regain  their  liberty,  and  were  detected,  they  were  strip- 
ped, tied  up  and  most  cruelly  and  disgracefully  whipped 
like  a  negro  slave.  Can  any  thing  be  conceived  more  hu- 
miliating to  the  feelings  of  men,  born  and  brought  up  as 
we  all  are?  Can  we  ever  be  cordial  friends  with  sucU  a 
people,  even  in  time  of  peace  ?  Will  ever  a  man  of  our 
country,  or  his  children  after  him,  forgive  this  worse  than 
Algerine  treatment  ? 

Several  of  the  most  intelligent  of  these  impressed  men 
related  to  me  the  particulars  of  the  treatment,  they,  at 
various  times,  received,  and  I  had  committed  them  to  pa- 
per, but  they  are  too  mean,  low  and  disgusting  to  be  re- 
corded. The  pitiful  evasions,  unworthy  arts,  and  even 
falsehoods  of  some  captains  of  his  Britannic  majesty's  line 


^'i ! 


I  >, 


««>:? 


m4 


160 


JOURNAL. 


■i'     M 


of  battle  ships,  when  a  seaman  produced  his  protection,  or 
oftered  to  prove  his  nativity,  or  identify  his  person,  as 
marked  in  his  descriptive  roll,  were  such,  as  to  make  me 
bless  my  stars  that  I  did  not  belong  to  their  service. 
There  were,  however,  some  instances  of  noble  and  gener- 
ous conduct,  which  came  up  to  the  idea  we  once  entertain- 
ed of  English  honor,  before  the  solid  bullion  of  the  Eng- 
lish naval  character  was  beat  into  such  thin,  such  very 
thin  gold  leaf,  as  to  gild  so  many  thousands  of  their  epau- 
letted  seamen.  The  officers  of  the  Poictiers  were  spoken 
of  with  respect;  and,  by  what  I  could  learn,  the  smaller 
the  vessel,  the  worse  treatment  Vvas  experienced  by  our 
prisoners,  and  impressed  seamen ;  your  little  big  men  being 
always  the  greatest  tyrants.  Among  these  small  fry  of 
the  mistress  of  the  ocean,  "  you  damned  yankee  rascal,^* 
was  a  common  epithet.  Many  of  the  impressed  seamen 
now  here,  have  told  me,  that  they  have  been  lashed  to  the 
gang-way,  and  most  severely  whipped,  even  to  the  extent 
of  three  dozen,  for  refusing  to  do,  what  the  captain  of  a 
British  man  of  war  called,  "  their  duty  !"  Some  of  these 
men  have  replied,  "  it  is  my  duty  to  serve  my  own  coun- 
try, and  fight  against  its  enemies  ;'"  and  for  saying  so, 
have  been  farther  abused.  Have  ever  the  French,  Span- 
iards, Portuguese,  Italians,  Germans,  Dutch,  Danes, 
Swedes,  Russians,  Prussians,  Turks,  or  Mgerines  treated 
American  citizens  in  this  way  ?  And  yet  our  federalists 
can  never  bear  to  hear  us  speak,  in  terms  of  resentment, 
against  "  the  bulwark  of  our  religion."  O,  Caleb  !  Caleb  ! 
thou  hast  a  head  and  so  has  a  beetle.* 

We  had  all  more  or  less  money  from  the  American  gov- 
ernment, and  some  of  the  impressed  men  brought  money 
with  them.  This  attracted  the  avaricious  spirit  of  our 
neighbors  ;  so  that  our  market  was  filled,  not  only  with 
vegetables,  but  animal  food.  There  was  also  seen  in  our 
market,  piles  of  broad  cloth,  boxes  of  hats,  boots,  shoes, 
and  many  other  articles.  The  greatest  pick  pockets  of  all 
were  the  Jews,  with  their  watches,  seals  and  trinkets,  and 

*  When  we  have  read  in  the  American  newspapers,  which  sometimes 
reached  Daittnoor  prison,  the  speeches  and  proclamations  of  the  governor 
of  Massachusetrs,  sonic  of  us  have  blushed  at  the  degradation  of  our  native 
state;  thai  state  which  once  took  the  lead  in  the  opposition  to  Biitdin; 
and  that  Boston,  once  considered  the  cradle  of  liberty,  has  become  among 
us,  a  name  of  reproach.  Such  are  the  effects  of  an  unprincipled  faction. 


^  m 


.!'■  m 


JOURNAL. 


161 


trot  ection,  or 
J  person,  as 
to  make  me 
leir   service, 
e  and  gener- 
leeentertain- 
of  the  Eng- 
1,  such  very 
f  their  epau- 
were  spoken 
the  smaller 
inced  by  our 
tig  men  being 
small  fry  oi" 
nkee  rascal,''* 
E>ssed  seamen 
lashed  to  the 
to  the  extent 
captain  of  a 
Some  of  these 
ly  own  coun- 
or  saying  so, 
rench,  Span- 
itch,    Danes, 
>rines  treated 
ir  federalists 
resentment, 
leb  !  Caleb  ! 

merican  gov- 
)iight  money 
pirit  of  our 
ot  only  with 
o  seen  in  our 
)oots,  shoes, 
ockets  of  all 
trinkets,  and 


(lich  sometimes 
of  the  governor 

ion  of  our  native 
ion  to  Biitdin; 

s  become  among 
pled  faction. 


bad  books.  A  moral  commander  would  have  swept  the 
prison  clean  of  such  vermin.  The  women  who  attend  our 
market  are  as  sharp  as  the  Jews,  and  worse  to  dual  with, 
for  a  sailor  cannot  beat  them  down  as  he  can  one  of  these 
swindling  Israelites.  Milk  is  cheap,  only  4d.  per  gallon, 
but  they  know  how  to  water  it. 

The  language  and  phraseology  of  these  market  people 
are  very  rude.  When  pufting  off  the  qualities  of  their  goods, 
when  they  talk  very  fast,  we  can  hardly  understand  them. 
They  do  not  speak  near  so  good  English  as  our  commou 
market  people  do  in  America.  The  best  of  them  use  the  pro- 
noun he  in  a  singular  manner — as  can  he  pay  me  ?  Can  he 
change  ?  For  can  you  pay  me  ^  Or  you  change  ?  I  am 
fully  of  opinion  with  those  who  say  that  the  American  peo- 
ple, taken  collectively  as  a  nation,  speak  the  £us;lish  lan- 
guage with  more  purity  than  the  Britons,  taken  collective- 
ly. Every  man  or  boy  of  every  part  of  the  United  States 
would  be  prenptly  understood  by  the  men  of  letters  in 
London ;  but  every  man  and  boy  of  Old  England  would  not 
be  promptly  understood  by  the  lettered  men  in  the  capital 
towns  of  America.  Is  it  not  the  bible  that  has  preserved 
the  purity  of  our  language  in  America  ? 

I  am  sorry  to  remark  that  the  Christmas  holy-days  have 
been  recently  marked  with  no  small  degree  of  intoxication, 
and  its  natural  consequence,  quarrelling  among  the  pri- 
soners. The  news  of  peace,  and  the  expectation  of  being 
soon  freed  from  all  restraint,  have  operated  to  unsettle  the 
minds  of  the  most  unruly,  and  to  encourage  riot.  Drink- 
ing, carousing  and  noise,  with  little  foolish  tricks,  are  now 
too  common.  Some  one  took  off  a  shutter,  or  blind,  from 
a  window  of  N'o.  6,  and  as  the  persons  were  not  delivered 
up  by  the  standing  committee.  Captain  Shortland  punish- 
ed the  whole,  college  fashion,  by  stopping  the  market,  or 
as  this  great  man  was  pleased  wittily  to  call  it,  an  embar- 
go. At  length  the  men  were  given  up  to  Shortland,  who 
put  them  in  the  black  hole  for  ten  davs. 

To  he  a  cook  is  the  most  disagreeable  and  dangerous 
ofllice  at  this  depot.  They  are  always  suspected,  watched 
and  hated,  from  an  apprehension  that  they  defraud  the 
prisoner  of  his  just  allowance  One  was  flogged  the  oth- 
er day  for  skimming  the  fat  off  the  soup.  The  grand  Vi- 
2:ier'3  office  at  Constantinople,  is  not  more  dangerous  than 
a  cook'g  at  this  prison,  where  are  collected  four  or  five 


■■si 


m 

III 

'41''  Vii'lH 
V     V  -  nl 

■  r^^ 

■  •L  : 

#'■■•  m 

■ft 


i    i>:''  ■ 


r 


"i^'mmmmm 


iG'2 


JOURNAL. 


p:-  ,s 


r,!i  • 


|f,    *•■:  Sfi       ''  If 


thousand  lnuigry  American  sons  of  liberty.  T!»e  prisnn- 
ers  take  it  upon  themselves  to  punish  these  pot-skimmers 
in  their  own  way. 

\Vc  have  in  this  collection  of  prisoners,  a  f^an*  of  hard- 
fisted  fellows,  who  call  themselves  "_tiie  UOUGH  ALLIES." 
They  have  assumed  to  themselves  the  office  of  accuser, 
judge  and  executioier.  In  my  opinion,  they  are  as  threat 
villains  as  could  be  collected  in  the  United  States.  They 
appear  to  have  little  principle,  and  as  little  humanity, 
and  many  of  them  are  given  up  to  every  vice  ;  and  yet 
these  ragamuffins  have  been  allowed  to  hold  the  scale  aud 
rod  of  justice.  These  rough  allies  make  summary  work 
with  the  accused,  and  seldom  fail  to  drag  him  to  punish* 
ment.     I  am  wearied  out  with  such  lawless  conduct. 

January  Zi)th.  The  principal  conversation  among  the 
most  considerate  is,  when  will  the  treaty  be  returned,  rat- 
ified ;  for  knov^ing  the  high  character  of  our  commission- 
ers, none  doubt  biit  that  the  President  and  Senate  will  rat- 
ify, what  they  have  approved.  We  are  all  in  an  uneasy 
and  unsettled  state  of  mind  ;  more  so  thoM  before  the  news 
of  peace.  Before  that  news  arrived,  we  had  settled  down 
in  a  degree  of  despair;  but  now  we  are  preparing  and 
planning  our  peaceable  departure  from  this  loathsome 
place. 

I  would  ask  the  reader's  attention  to  the  conduct  of  capt. 
Bhortland,  the  commanding  officer  of  this  depot  of  prison- 
ers, as  well  as  to  the  conduct  of  the  men  under  his  uharge, 
as  the  conduct  and  events  of  this  period  have  led  on  to  a 
tragedy  that  has  filled  our  native  land  with  mourning  and 
indignation.  1  shall  aim  at  truth  and  impartiality,  and 
the  reader  may  make  such  allowance  as  our  situation  may 
naturally  afford,  and  his  cool  judgment  suggest. 

In  the  month  of  January,  181  d,  captain  Shortland  com- 
menced a  practice  of  counting  over  the  prisoners  out  of 
tlieir  respective  prisons,  in  the  cold,  raw  air  of  the  yard, 
-where  we  were  exposed  above  an  hour,  unnecessarily  tp 
the  severity  ef  the  weather.  After  submitting  to  this  ca- 
price of  our  keeper,  for  several  mornings,  in  hopes  he 
would  be  satisfied  as  to  the  accurate  number  of  the  men 
in  prison,  we  all  refused  to  go  out  again  in  wet  and  raw 
weather.  Shortland  pursued  his  usual  method  of  stop- 
ping the  market ;  but  finding  that  it  had  no  efiect,  he  de- 
termined on  using  force;  and  sent  his  soldiers  into  the 


i 


JOURNAL. 


i^'i 


yard,  anil  ordered  them  to  drive  the  prisoners  into  prison 
in  the  middle  of  the  afternoon^  whereas  they  hereiofare  re- 
mained out  until  the  sun  hud  get,  and  then  they  all  went 
quietly  into  their  dormitories.  The  res;i:nent  of  re<^ulars 
had  been  withdrawn,  and  a  regiment  of  Somersetshire  ini< 
lilia  had  taken  their  place,  a  set  of  stupid  fellows,  and 
generally  speaUiitj;,  ignorant  oliicers.  The  regiment  of 
regulars  were  clever  feiJows,  and  Shorlland  was  awed  by 
their  character;  but  he  felt  no  awe,  or  respect,  for  these 
irregulars. 

The  prisoners  told  the  soldiers  that  this  was  an  unusual 
time  of  day  for  them  to  leave  the  yard,  and  that  they  would 
not  tamely  submit  to  such  caprice.  The  soldiers  could 
only  answer  by  repeating  their  orders.  More  soldiers 
were  sent  for,  but  they  took  special  care  to  assume  a  po- 
sition to  secure  their  protection.  The  soldiers  began  now 
to  use  force  with  tiieir  bayonets.  All  this  time  Shortland 
stood  on  the  military  walk  with  the  major  of  the  regiment, 
observing  the  progress  of  his  orders.  Our  men  stood  their 
ground.  On  observing  this  opposition,  Shortland  became 
enraged,  and  ordered  the  major  to  give  the  word  for  the 
soldiers  to  fire.  The  soldiers  were  drawn  up  in  a  half  cir- 
cle, to  keep  them  from  scattering. 

We  were  now  hemmed  in  between  No.  7,  and  the  wall, 
that  divided  this  from  the  yard  of  No.  4.  The  major  then 
gave  orders  to  the  ollieer  in  the  yard,  (0  charge  bayonet. 
This  did  not  occasion  our  prisoners  to  retreat;  they  rath- 
er advanced  ;  and  some  of  ihem  told  the  soldiers,  that  if 
they  pricked  a  single  man,  they  would  disarm  them. 
Shortland  was  watching  all  these  movements  from  behind 
the  gutc ;  and  finding  that  he  had  not  men  enough  to  drive 
them  in,  drew  his  soldiers  out  uf  the  yard.  After  this,  the 
prisoners  went  into  the  prison  uf  their  own  accord,  when 
the  turnkey  sounded  a  horn. 

These  militia-men  have  been  somewhat  intimidated  by 
the  threatenings  of  the  '*  rough  allies,"  before  mentioned. 
'JMiese  national  guards  thought  they  could  drive  us  about 
like  so  many  Frenchmen ;  but  they  have  found  their  mis- 
take. A  man  escaped  from  the  black-hole,  who  had  been 
condemned  io  remain  in  it  during  the  war,  for  attempting 
to  blow  up  a  ship.  The  prisoners  were  determined  to  pro- 
tect him  ;  and  when  Shortland  found  that  the  prisoners 
would  not  betray  him  into  bis  hands,  he  resorted  to  bis 


Ivh' 


I 


'M 


'fii*'^}: 


164 


JOURNAL. 


'^      1 


^*    i 


V  f    H 


m 


usual  embargo  of  the  market,  and  sent  his  soldiers  in  after 
the  prisoner;  but  be  might  as  well  have  sought  a  needle 
in  a  hay-nioM' ;  for  such  was  the  difficulty  of  finding  an  in- 
dividual among  six  thousand.  They  ransacked  every 
birth,  and  lurking  place,  and  passed  frequently  by  the  man 
without  being  able  to  identify  him.  The  prisoners  mixed 
in  so  entirely  with  the  soldiers,  that  the  latter  could  not 
act,  and  were  actually  fearful  of  being  disarmed.  When 
these  Somersetshire  militia  found  that  we  were  far  from 
being  afraid  of  them,  they  ceased  to  be  insolent,  and  tieat- 
ed  us  with  something  like  respect.  There  was  a  consider- 
able degree  of  friendship  between  us  and  the  late  regiment 
of  regulars,  who  were  gentlemen,  compared  with  these 
militia. 

There  are  about  four  liundred  and  fifty  negroes  in  pris- 
on No.  4,  and  this  assemblage  of  blacks  afiords  many  cu- 
rious anecdotes,  and  much  matter  for  speculation.  These 
blacks  have  ariuler  among  them  wbom  they  call  king  dick. 
He  is  by  far  the  largest,  and  I  suspect  the  strongest  man  in 
the  prison.  He  is  six  feet  five  inches  in  height,  and  pro- 
portionably  large.  This  biack  Hercules  commands  re- 
spect, und  bis  subjects  tremble  in  his  presence.  He  goes 
tbe  rounds  every  day,  and  visits  every  birth  to  see  if  they 
are  all  kept  clean.  When  he  goes  the  rounds,  he  puts  on 
a  large  bear-skin  cap,  and  carries  in  his  hand  a  huge 
club.  If  any  of  his  men  are  dirty,  drnnken,  or  grossly 
negligent,  he  threatens  them  with  a  beating,  and  if  tlicy 
are  saucy,  they  are  sure  to  receive  one.  They  have  sev- 
eral times  conspired  against  him,  and  attempted  to  de- 
tbrone  him  ;  but  he  has  always  conquered  the  rebels.  One 
night  several  attacked  him  while  asleep  in  his  hammock  ; 
he  sprang  up  and  seized  the  smallest  of  them  by  his  feet, 
and  thumped  another  with  him.  The  poor  negro  who  had 
thus  been  made  a  beetle  of,  was  carried  next  day  to  the  hos- 
pital, sadly  bruised,  and  provokingly  laughed  at.  This  rul- 
er of  the  blacks,  this  king  richard  the  IVth,  is  a  man  of 
good  understanding,  and  he  exercises  it  to  a  good  purpose. 
If  any  one  of  his  color  cheats,  defrauds,  or  itteals  from  his 
comrades,  he  is  sure  to  be  punished  for  it.  Negroes  are 
generally  reputed  to  be  thieves,  Their  faculties  are  com- 
monly found  to  be  inader^uate  to  the  comprehension  of  the 
moral  system  ;  and  as  to  the  christian  system,  their  no- 
tions of  it,  generally  speaking,  arc  a  burlesque  to  every 


JOURNAL, 


165 


ed  with  these 


thing  serious.  The  punishment  which  these  blacks  are 
disposed  to  indict  on  one  another  for  stealing,  partakes  of 
barbarity,  and  ought  never  to  be  allowed,  whp.'»*  the  whiter 
have  the  control  of  them. 

Beside  his  majesty  King  Dick,  these  black  prisoners 
have  among  them  a  priest,  who  preaches  every  Sunday. 
He  can  read,  and  he  gives  good  advice  to  his  brethren ; 
and  his  prayers  are  very  much  in  the  strain  of  what  we 
have  been  used  to  hear  at  home.  In  the  course  of  his  ed- 
ucation, he  has  learnt,  it  is  said,  to  know  the  nature  of 
crimes  and  punishments ;  for,  it  is  said,  that  while  ou 
board  the  Crown  Prince  prison-ship,  at  Chatham,  he  re- 
ceived a  dozen  lashes  for  stealing  some  clothing ;  but  we 
must  make  allowance  for  stories  ;  for  preachers  have  al- 
ways complained  of  the  calumnies  of  their  enemies,  if  his 
whole  history  was  known  and  correctly  narrated,  he  might 
be  found  a  duly  qualified  preacher,  to  such  a  congregation 
as  that  of  prison  N^o.  4*. 

This  black  man  has  a  good  deal  of  art  and  cunning,  and 
has  drawn  several  whites  into  his  church ;  and  his  per-, 
formances  have  an  imposing  ca«it,  ai:d  are  often  listened  to 
with  seriousness.  lie  appear!^  to  have  learnt  his  sermons 
and  prayers  from  a  diligent  reading  of  good  books  ;  but, 
as  to  the  christian  s^/stem,  the  man  has  no  more  idea  of  it 
than  he  has  of  the  New  Jerusalem  ;  but  then  his  good  sen- 
tences, delivered,  frequently,  with  great  warmth,  and  his 
siring  of  gootl  advice,  given  in  the  negro  dialect,  makes, 
altogether,  a  novelty,  that  attracts  many  to  hear  him  ;  and 
he  certainly  is  of  service  to  the  blacks ;  and  it  is  a  faef, 
that  the  v.iliccrs  have  heard  him  hold  forth,  without  any 
expressions  of  ridicule,  while  the  majority  of  these  miser- 
able people  are  too  much  depraved  to  pay  any  serious  at- 
tention to  his  advice. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  the  natural  alliance  between 
king  Dick  and  this  priest.  Dick  honors  and  protects  him, 
while  the  priest  inculcates  respect  and  obedience  to  thiit 
Richard  the  ^th.  Here  we  see  t!»e  union  of  church  and 
state  in  miniature.  Who  told  this  negro  that  to  maintain 
this  influence,  he  must  rally  round  the  huge  club  of  the 
strongest  and  most  powerful  man  in  this  black  gang  of 
sinners?  And  who  told  king  Dick  that  his  nervous  arm 
and  massy  club,  were  insutliiient  without  the  aid  of  tlie 
preacher  of  terror  ?  Neither  of  them  had  read  or  heard  af 
1** 


L- 


IE      i 


W' 


'  '    I 


L.  IIS 


M 


■  i  # 


r<!>  •>    ' 


ff 


■    h'll 
•  '  -  'i  (I 

m 


'r.W 


M« 


ngtiammmtttmm 


106 


JOURNAIi, 


U  H  h. 


l^k  1 


M 


MacTiiave?.  Who  taught  this  black  orator,  that  t(i?r 
priesthood  must  seek  shelter  behind  the  throne,  from  the 
Iiostilitics  of  reason  ?  And  who  told  "  the  rough  allies,'^ 
the  Janezaries  of  this  imperium  in  imperio,  that  they  m\mi 
assist  and  countenance  both  Dick  and  the  priest  ?  The  sci- 
ence of  government  is  not  so  deep  and  complicated  a  thin;; 
as  king-craft  and  priest-craft  would  make  us  believe,  since 
these  rude  people,  almost  deserving  the  name  of  a  bandit- 
ti, threw  themselves  into  a  sort  of  government,  that  is  to 
he  discerned  in  the  early  stages  of  every  government.  The 
Jove  of  r>ower,  of  influeuee^  and  of  distinction,  is  clearly 
discernible,  even  among  the  prisoners  at  Dartmoor. 

Beside  king  Dick,  and  Simon,  the  priest,  there  was 
another  black  divine,  named  John.  He  had  been  a  serv- 
ant of  Edward,  duke  of  Kent,  third  son  of  the  present  king 
of  Eugiami ;  on  which  account,  black  John  assumed  no 
small  stale  and  dignity.  He  left  the  service  of  his  royal 
Llghnciis,  and  was  found  on  board  an  American  ship,  am! 
"was  pressed  from  thence  into  a  British  man  of  war,  where 
he  served  a  year  or  two,  in  the  station  <if  captain's  stew- 
ard ;  but  disliking  the  service,  be  clai  jied  his  release  as  an 
American,  and  was  sent  with  a  number  of  other  pressed 
men,  to  the  prison-ships  at  Chatham,  and  he  eame  to  thi& 
prison  willi  a  number  of  other  Africans.  After  king  Dick, 
and  Himon.  the  priest,  black  John  was  the  next  man  of  the 
most  consequence  among  the  negroes;  and  considering  his 
family  connection,  and  that  he  knew  how  to  read  and 
tvritc,  it  is  not  much  to  be  wondered  at.  John  conceii-ed 
ihat  his  influence  with  his  royal  highness  was  suflicieuv  to 
encourage  him  to  write  to  the  duke  to  get  him  set  at  liber- 
ty, who  actually  applied  to  the  transport  hoard  with  that 
view ;  but  they  could  not  grant  it.  He  received,  however, 
a  letter  from  Capt.  Hervy,  the  duke's  secretary,  on  the 
subject,  who  added,  that  as  he  had  been  so  unwise  as  to  re- 
fuse to  serve  his  majesty,  he  must  suffer  for  his  folly.  We 
have  been  particular  in  this  anecdote,  and  we  reqoest  oup 
readers  to  bear  it  in  imind,  when  we  shall  come  to  contrast 
this  prompt  answer  of  the  royal  duke  to  the  letter  of  a  ne- 
,^ro,  with  the  conduct  of  Mr.  B.  our  agent  for  prisoners. 
The  prisoners  themselves  noticed  it,  and  envied  the  nciji^ro^ 
while  Miey  execrated  the  haughty,  unfeeling  agent,  who 
seldom,  or  ever  answered  iheic  letters,  or  took  any  uoliffp 
«r  their  applications. 


l\  '0 


JOUKNAL^ 


1.67 


The  poor  negro  consoled  himself  for  his  disappointment 
by  turning  christian ;  and  being  a  pretty  clever  fellow,  and 
having  formerly  belonged  to  the  royal  family,  it  was  con- 
sidered an  act  of  kindness  and  magnanimity,  to  raise  him 
to  the  rank  of  deacon  in  Simon's  church.  Deacon  John 
generally  acts  as  a  privy  counsellor  to  the  king,  and  is 
sometimes  a  judge  in  criminal  cases,  when  his  majesty  al- 
lows of  one,  which  is  not  very  often  ;  for  he  most  common- 
ly acts  in  as  despotic  and  summary  a  manner  as  the  dey  of 
Algiers  himself. 

King  Dick  keeps  a  boxing-school,  where  the  white  mea 
are  sometimes  admitted.  No.  4  is  noted,  also,  for  fencing, 
dancing  and  music ;  and,  however  extraordinary  it  may  ap- 
pear, they  teach  these  accomplishments  to  the  white  men« 
A  person,  entering  the  cock-loft  of  No.  4,  would  be  highly 
amused  with  the  droll  scenery  which  it  exhibited,  and  if 
his  sense  of  smelling  be  not  too  refined,  may  relish,  for  a 
little  while,  this  strange  assemblage  of  antics.  Here  ho 
may  see  boxing,  fencing,  dancing,  raffling,  and  other 
modes  of  gambling  ;  and  to  this,  wc  may  add,  drawing  with 
chalk  and  charcoal,  and  tricks  of  slight  of  hand,  and  all 
this  to  gratify  the  eye ;  and  for  the  sense  of  hearing,  he 
may  be  regaled  with  the  sound  of  o!<*rionets,  flutes,  vio- 
lins, flagelets,  fifes,  tambarines,  together  with  the  whoop- 
ing and  singing  of  the  negroes.  On  Sundays  this  den  of 
thieves  is  transformed  into  a  temple  of  worship,  when  Si- 
mon, the  priest,  mounted  on  a  little  stool,  behind  a  table 
covered  with  green  cloth,  proclaims  the  wonders  of  crea- 
tion, and  salvation  to  the  souls  of  true  believers  ;  and  hell 
fire  and  brimstone,  and  weeping,  and  wailing,  and  gnash- 
ing of  teeth,  to  the  hardened  and  impenitent  sinner,  and 
obstinate  rebel  of  proffered  mercy.  As  he  approaches  the 
end  of  his  discourse,  he  grows  warmer  and  warmer,  and, 
foaming  at  the  mouth,  denounces  all  the  terrors  of  the 
law  against  every  heaven-daring,  God-provoking  sinner. 
1  have  frequently  noticed  the  effect  of  this  black  man's  or- 
atory upon  some  of  his  audience.  While  he  has  been  thu» 
thundering  and  lightning,  sullen  moans  and  hollow  groans 
issue  from  different  parts  of  the  room,  a  proof  that  hi& 
zealous  harrangue  solemnizes  some  of  his  hearers,  while 
the  greater  part  of  them  are  making  grimaces,  or  betray- 
ing marks  of  impatience  j  but  no  one  dare  be  riotous^  as 
near  Uie  preacher  sat  his  majesty  king  Dick,  with  bis  ter*" 


1 

• » 

h 

P 

fi'^ 

I 

,!    ■.'! 

m 


« 


fs' 


n--. 


^s 


i: 


16  S 


J9URMAL. 


!  t 


111 


rible  club)  and  huge  bear-skin  cap.  The  members  of  Uic 
ehurch  sat  iu  an  halt' circle  nearest  the  priest,  while  those 
who  had  never  passed  over  the  threshold  of  grace,  stood 
behind  them. 

A  little  dispute,  if  not  quite  a  schism,  has  existed  be- 
tween Simon,  the  priest,  and  deacon  John.  The  latter, 
Mhile  in  the  family  of  a  i-oyalduke,  had  learned  (hat  it  was 

E roper  to  read  prayers,  already  made,  and  printed  to  their 
ands ;  but  Simon  said,  he  should  make  but  few  converts 
if  he  read  his  prayers.  He  said  that  prayers  ought  tu 
spring  at  once,  warm  from  the  heart :  and  that  reading 
prayers  was  too  cold  apiece  of  work  for  him  or  his  church. 
But  John  said,  in  reply,  that  reading  prayers  was  practiced 
by  his  royal  highness  the  duke  of  Kent,  and  all  the  noble 
families  in  England,  as  well  as  on  board  all  his  Britannic 
majesty's  ships  of  war.  But  Simon,  who  had  never  watt* 
ed  on  royalty,  nor  ever  witnessed  the  religious  exercises  of 
an  English  man  of  war,  would  not  believe  this  practice  of 
the  British  nation  ought  to  have  weight  with  the  reformed 
fthristians  of  the  United  States.  There  was  a  diversity  of 
opinion  in  the  black  church,  and  the  dispute  once  grew  so 
warm,  that  Simon  told  John,  that  it  was  his  opinion,  that 
he  who  could  not  pray  to  his  God,  without  a  book,  would 
be  damned. 

His  majesty  king  Dick  finding  that  this  dispute  might 
endanger  the  peace  of  the  church,  and,  possibly,  diminish 
his  own  influence,  advised  that  the  dispute  should  be  left  to 
the  decision  of  a  neighboring  methudlst  preacher,  who 
Sometimes  visited  the  prison,  in  a  labor  of  love.  The 
preacher  came  and  heard,  patiently,  the  arguments  of  both 
sides,  and  finally  decided,  as  king  Dick  doubtless  foresaw, 
in  favor  of  Simon.  He  said  that  the  reason  why  his  royal 
highness  the  duke  of  Kent,  and  all  the  royal  family,  and 
all  the  nobility  and  parliament-men  read  their  prayers, 
was,  because  they  had  not  time  to  make  them,  each  one  for 
liimself.  'Now  Deacon  John  was  a  better  reasoner  than 
Simon,  but  Simon  had  the  most  cant ;  and  he,  of  course, 

Prevailed.  It  is  probable  that  John  had  concluded,  that  if 
e  could  carry  a  vote  for  reading  prayers,  he,  himself, 
would  be  the  reader,  and  then  he  should  become  as  conspic- 
uous as  Simon.  Emulation,  and  the  desire  of  distinction, 
the  great,  and  indeed  main-spring  of  this  worhl,  was  as 
apparent  amoug  these  degraded  sons  of  Africa,  as  among 


JOURNALt 


16U 


embers  of  liic 

t,  while  those 

grace,  stood 


L9  existed  be- 
The  latter, 
jed  (hat  it  was 
Tinted  to  their 
t  few  can  verts 
yers  ought  tu 

that  nading 

or  his  church. 

was  practiced 
d  all  the  noble 
1  his  Britannic 
ad  never  wait- 
)us  exercises  of 
his  practice  of 
,h  the  reformed 
i  a  diversity  of 
e  once  grew  so 
,s  opinion,  that 

a  book,  would 

dispute   might 
sibly,  diminish 
hould  be  left  to 
preacher,  who 
of  love.    The 
uments  of  both 
btless  foresaw, 
why  his  royal 
ral  family,  and 
their  prayers, 
m,  each  one  for 
reasoner  than 
he,  of  course, 
ncluded, that  if 
s,  he,  himself, 
ume  as  conspic- 
of  distinction, 
world,  was  as 
rica,  as  among 


any  white  gentlemen  and  ladies  in  the  land.  John's  am- 
bition, and  his  envy,  operated  j;ist  like  the  ambition  and 
envy  of  white  people.  At  length,  when  the  deacon  found 
that,  since  the  decision  of  the  methodist,  bis  supporters  de- 
serted him,  he  made  his  mind  up  to  follow  the  current,  and 
to  justify  his  conduct  by  inculcating  a  spirit  of  conciliation 
and  union.  This  shrewd  fellow  knew,  that  if  he  did  not 
follow  the  current,  he  should  lose  the  privilege  of  sitting 
at  the  end  of  the  table,  opposite  to  Simon,  and  of  leaning 
his  head  on  the  great  bible,  while  Simon  was  preaching; 
privileges  too  great  to  be  slighted  in  sueh  a  church,  aud 
directly  after  a  religious  dispute. 

Since  I  returned  home,  and  while  transcribing  this  jour- 
nal for  tiie  press,  I  have  thought  that  the  conduct  of  dea- 
con John  was  from  the  self  same  principle  with  that  which 
actuated  the  federalists,  since  the  dissolution  and  disgrace 
of  the  Hartford  Convention.  This  faction  found  them- 
selves after  the  peace,  and  after  the  battle  of  New  Orleans, 
going  fast  down  the  stream  of  popular  opinion  ;  and  then 
it  was  that  they  preached  up  conciliation,  liberality,  and 
union  ;  then  it  was  they  caught  hold  of  tlie  skirts  of  the 
land  and  uaval  heroes ;  nay,  they  went  so  far  as  to  hail 
Jefterson  and  Madison  as  brother  Unitarians !  In  short, 
the  situation  of  black  John,  and  the  federalists  of  Massa- 
chusetts, was  exactly  the  same,  and  their  conduct  in  every 
point,  similar;  and  the  leading  federalists  of  Boston  have 
been  left,  like  the  deacon  of  the  negro  congregation,  in 
No.  4,  Dartmoor  prison,  to  sleep  upon  the  great  bible. 

Simon,  the  priest,  enjoyed  one  great  and  envied  privi- 
lege, which  John  never  pretended  to,  namely,  an  acquaint- 
ance and  intercourse  with  the  angel  Gabriel.  He  had  many 
revelation?,  from  this  celestial  messenger,  and  related  them 
to  his  church.  They  related  principally  to  the  fate  of  his 
fallow  prisoners  ;  one,  in  particular,  he  told  to  his  church 
with  awe  and  solemnity. 

I  saw,  said  he.  a  great  light,  shining  only  through  the 
grates  of  one  window,  before  the  hour  of  day  break.  I 
looked  up,  and  saw  something  like  a  man  with  wings.  I 
was  at  first  frightened,  and  cried  out,  "  who  comes  dare  ;'* 
for  I  could  not  see  his  face.  Directly  the  bars  of  the  win- 
dow bent  each  way,  and  his  head  and  shoulders  came  in,^ 
when  1  knew  him  to  be  the  angel  Gabriel.  ^'  Simon,"  said 
he,  <^  I  am  come  to  tell  you  that  this  prison  will  be  sunk 


f 


m   /A 


ijii'iiyHi 


>!.;.'■ 


f  :r 


^'l 


1 
I''  li 


ITO 


JOURNAL. 


mi 


t^smm 


11 


11    '^ 


'4 


I 


^i'lii 


life 


before  fuity  days,  because  its  inhabitants  are  so  wicked.'' 
Den  Itahk  him^  ami  lie  drew  back  his  head  again,  and  the 
iron  bars  were  restored  to  their  place  attain,  when  he 
spread  out  his  win;;s,  which  were  covered  with  ten  ihous* 
and  stars,  which  made  a  i^reat  li<;ht  when  he  flew  awuy. 
Such  was  the  method  used,  by  this  artful  black  mun,  to 
rouse  his  countiymen  nut  of  the  sink  of  vice;  and  it  h:ul 
the  desired  eflect.  This  prediction  solemnised  several  uf 
the  iies^roes,  and  had  more  or  less  etfect  upon  all  of  them. 
They  beeame  more  liberal  in  their  contributions,  which 
enabled  Simon  to  purchase  a  new  (;reen  coat.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  most  proilti^ate  of  these  fellows,  hud  a  secret 
dread  of  Simon's  prediction,  and  were  willing  to  gain  his 
favor  by  contributions  instead  of  repentance.  Has  not  this 
diiiposition  founded  churches,  monasteries  and  nunneries.'' 
]Vlany  of  Simon's  church  are  strongly  impressed  with  the 
apprehension,  of  the  prison  sinking  within  forty  days. 

These  blacks  have  been  desirous  of  having  their  prison 
the  centre  of  amusement,  'i  hey  act  plays  twice  a  week, 
and  as  far  as  close  imitation  of  what  they  have  seen  and 
lieard,  and  broad  grimace,  they  are  admirable,  but  they 
are,  half  the  time,  ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  the  words 
they  utter.  The  gate  ways  and  cenlry  boxes  are  plaisler- 
ed  over  with  play-bills,  announcing — Othello,  for  the 
first  time,  by  Mr.  Robinson — Desdemona,  by  Mr.  Junes. 
]  seldom  failed  to  attend  the(»e  exhibitions,  and  must  con- 
fess that  1  never  before  or  since,  or  perhaps  ever  shall 
laugh  so  heartily  as  at  these  troglodyte  dramas.  Their 
acting  was  assuredly  the  most  diverting  beyond  all  com- 
parison or  example  J  ever  saw.  They  would  cut  so  many 
negroish  capers  in  tragedy,  grin  and  distort  their  counte- 
nances in  such  a  variety  of  inhuman  expressions,  while 
they  kept  their  bodies  either  stilf  as  ^.o  many  stakes,  or  in  a 
monkeyish  wriggle,  and  ever  and  anon  such  a  baboon  stare 
at  Desdemona,  whose  face,  neck  and  hands  were  covered 
with  chalk  and  red  paint  to  make  him  look  like  a  beauti- 
ful white  lady — was  altogether,  considering  that  they 
themselves  were  very  serious,  the  most  ludicrous  exhibi- 
tion of  two  le;ged  ridiculousness  1  ever  witnessed.  In  the 
midst  of  my  loud  applauses,  I  could  not,  when  my  sore 
sides  would  allow  me  to  articulate,  hulp  exclaiming — O  ! 
Shakespeare!  Shakespeare  !— 0  !  Garrick  1  Garrick  i — 
what  would  X  uot  give  (a  despised  American  prisouer) 


JOURNAL. 


171 


fonhl  I  rais^  yim  from  tlie  dead,  that  you  minjlit  spe  the 
blat'k  consequences  of  your  own  (ranseeiident  i^eniuscs  ! — 
When  Garrick  rubbed  himself  over  with  burnt  cork  to 
make  himself  look  like  a  Moor,  or  with  lamp-black  to  re- 
semble Muns^o,  it  did  pretty  well ;  but  for  a  nei^ro  man  to 
cover  his  forehead,  neck  and  hands  with  chalk,  and  bis 
cheeks  with  vermillipn,  to  make  him  look  like  an  Kn«;liHh 
or  American  beauty,  was  too  much.  Had  1  been  t^oini;  np 
the  ladder  to  be  hanged,  I  should  have  lan;>;hed  at  this 
sisi^bt  'f  for  to  all  this  outrageous  (grimace,  was  added,  a 
fantastic  habiliment,  and  an  odour  from  Desdemona  and 
company,  that  associated  the  ideas  of  the  skunk  and  the 
polecat.  1  presume  that  their  auQ;ust  majesties,  the  em* 
peror  and  empress  of  Hayti,  have  some  means  of  destroy- 
ing this  association  of  ideas,  so  revolting  to  Americans. 

After  all,  this  may  be  in  us  a  disgust  grounded  more  in 
prejudice  than  nature.  What  we  call  delicacy  is  a  refine- 
ment of  civilization,  and  of  course  a  departure  from  na- 
ture. See  how  the  brutes  enjoy  rolling  and  wallowing  in 
what  ive  call  dirt ;  next  to  them,  we  may  observe  the  love 
of  what  we  call  filth  in  savages,  and  of  those  persons  in 
onr  cities  who  stand  nearest  to  them.  Extreme  cleanli- 
ness is  the  offspring  of  riches,  leisure,  luxury  and  extreme 
refinement ;  nevertheless  it  is  true   w  hat  Swift  says,  that 

persons  vvith  nice  minds  have  nasty  ideas."  I  suffered 
greatly,  and  so  did  many  of  our  countrymen,  on  our  first 
acquaintance  with  filth  and  vermin  in  this  our  British  cap- 
tivity. Many  a  time  have  I  got  up  from  my  dinner  as  hun- 
gry as  I  set  down,  when  disgust  has  been  greater  than  ap- 
petite. I  have  gradually  surmounted  antipathies  I  once 
thought  insurmountable.  I  am  not  the  only  one  who  has 
often  retired  from  our  disgusting  repast,  to  my  bunk  or 
sleeping  birth,  in  silent  agony,  there  to  breathe  out  to  my 
Maker,  woes  too  great  for  utterance.  O,  Britain!  Bri- 
tain !  will  there  not  be  a  day  of  retribution  fur  these  thy 
cruelties  ! 

There  are  some  in  this  dismal  prison,  who  have  been 
used  all  their  lives,  not  to  conveniencies  only,  but  to  deli- 
cacies :  who  are  obliged  to  submit  to  the  disagreeables  of 
this  uncivilized  mode  of  incarcerating  brave  men,  for  ono 
of  the  first  of  Grecian,  Roman,  English  and  American 
virtues,  the  love  of  country,  or  patriotism.  These  unfor- 
tunate naeuy  with   minds   far  elevated  beyond  the  ofiicers 


ti 


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JOURNAL. 


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who  arc  placed  here  to  giiani  and  to  formcnt  them,  sub- 
niit  to  their  confinement  with  a  better  i^'race  than  orio 
eonid  have  expected.  When  these  men  have  eaten  tiioir 
stinted  ration,  vilely  cooked,  and  hastily  served  up,  tliey 
return  to  their  hammocks,  or  sleepini;  births,  and  there 
try  "  to  steep  their  senses  in  forgatf  illness,^*  until  the  recur- 
rence of  the  next  disgustins;  meal.  On  the  other  hand, 
some  have  said  that  they  never  before  eat  with  sucli  a 
keen  appetite,  and  their  only  complaint  has  been,  that 
there  was  not  one  quarter  enou;;h  for  them  to  devour. 
Some  have  since  said,  that  they  devoured  their  daily  al- 
lowance at  Dartmoor,  with  more  relish  than  they  ever 
have  since,  when  set  down  at  tables,  covered, as  our  Amer- 
ican tables  are,  with  venison,  poultry,  the  finest  fish  and 
the  best  fruits  of  our  country,  with  choice  old  cider,  and 
good  foreign  wines. 

A  thing  very  disagreeable  to  me,  arose  from  causes  not 
occasioned  by  the  enemy.  1  have  been  squeezed  to  sore- 
ness by  a  crowd  of  rough,  overbearing  men,  who  oft  times 
appeared  to  be  indifferent  whether  they  trampled  you  un- 
der feet  or  not.  The  "  rough  allies"  so  called,  had  no 
feeling  for  men  smaller  pnd  weaker  than  themselves. 
From  this  gang*  you  could  seldom  get  a  civil  answer. 
Their  yells,  and  whooping,  more  like  savages  than  white 
men,  were  very  troublesome.  The  conduct  of  these,  prov- 
ed that  it  was  natural  for  the  strong  to  tyrannize  over  the 
weak.  I  have  often  thought  that  our  assemblage  of  pris- 
oners, resembled  very  much  the  GreciaM  and  Roman  de- 
mocracies, which  were  far,  very  far,  beneath  the  just,  ra- 
tional, and  wisely  guarded  democracy  of  our  dear  Ameri- 
ca, for  whose  existence  and  honor  we  are  all  still  heartily 
disposed  to  risk  our  lives  and  spill  our  blood. 

As  not  allowing  us  prisoners  a  dne  and  comfortable  por- 
tion of  clean  fond,  is  the  heavy  charge  1  have  to  make  a- 
gainst  the  British  nation,  I  shall  here,  once  for  all,  at- 
tempt to  describe  the  agonies  I  myself  felt,  and  observed 
others  to  endure,  from  cravings  of  hunge*- — which  are  keen 
descriptions  in  young  men,  not  yet  arrived  to  their  full 
growth.— The  hungry  prisoner  is  seen  to  traverse  the  al- 
leys, backwards  and  forwards,  with  a  gnawing  stomach 
and  a  haggard  look  ;  while  he  sees  the  fine  white  loaves 
on  the  tables  of  the  bread-seller,  when  all  that  he  poitsess- 
es  cannot  buy  a  single  loaf.     I  have  known  many  men 


JUUUNAL. 


i:^ 


tremble,  and  become  sick  at  their  stomachs,  at  the  sii;ht  of 
bread  they  could  not  obtain.     Sometimes  a  prisoner  has 

})ut  away  a  portion  of  his  bread,  and  sworn  to  himself  that 
te  would  not  eat  it  until  such  an  hour  after  breakfast ;  he 
has,  however,  gone  to  it,  and  picked  a  few  crumbs  from  it, 
and  replaced  it;  and  sometimes  he  could  no  longer  resist 
the  grinding  torments  of  hunger,  but  devoured  with  more 
than  canine  appetite ;  for  it  must  be  understood  that  the 
interval  between  the  evening  and  morning  meal  was  the 
most  distressing.  An  healthy,  growing  young  man,  feels 
very  uncomfortable  if  he  Pasts  five  hours  ;  but  to  be  without 
food,  as  we  often  were,  for  fourteen  hours,  was  a  cruel  neg- 
lect, or  a  barbarous  custom.  Our  resourse  from  hunger 
was  sleep  ;  not  but  that  the  sensations  of  hunger,  and  the 
thoughts  of  the  deprivation,  oiten  prevented  me  from  get- 
ting asleep ;  and  at  other  times,  when  wrapt  in  sleep,  I 
have  dreamed  of  setting  down  to  a  table  of  the  most  deli- 
cious food,  and  most  savoury  meats,  and  in  the  greatest 
profusion ;  and  amidst  my  imagined  enjoyment,  have  wak- 
ed in  disappointment,  agony  and  tears.  This  was  the 
keenest  misery  I  ever  endured,  and  at  such  times,  have  I 
cursed  the  nation  that  allowed  of  it,  as  being  more  barba- 
rous than  Algerines  or  wild  Indians.  The  comparative 
size  of  the  pieces  of  beef  and  bread  is  watched  with  a  keen 
and  jealous  eye  ;  so  are  even  the  bits  of  turnip  in  our  soup, 
lest  one  should  have  more  than  the  other,  i  have  noticed 
more  acts  of  meanness  and  dishonesty  in  men  of  respecta- 
ble character,  in  the  division  and  acquisition  of  the  arti- 
cles of  our  daily  food,  than  in  any  other  transaction  what- 
ever. Such  as  they  would  despise,  were  hunger  out  of  the 
question.  The  best  apology  1  can  make  for  the  practice 
of  gaming  is,  the  hope  of  alleviating  this  most  abominable 
system  of  starvation.  Had  we  been  duly  and  properly  fed, 
we  never  should  have  run  so  deeply  into  the  hell  of  gamb- 
ling. We  did  not  want  money  to  buy  clothing,  or  wine,  or 
rum,  but  to  buy  beef,  and  bread,  and  milk.  1  repeat  it,  all 
the  irregularities,  and,  finally,  the  horrors  and  death, 
that  oeeurred  in  a  remarkable  manner,  in  this  den  of  des- 
pair, arose  from  the  British  system  of  seunty  food  for 
young  men,  whose  vigorous  systems,  and  habits  of  beiitg  full 
ied,demandedathird  more  solid  flesh  meat,  than  would  sat- 
isfy a  potatoe-eatiiig  Irishman,  an  oat-feeding  Scotchman, 
or  an  half  starved  English  manufaclorer.    After  we  have 

10 


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174 


JOURKAL. 


1:^ 


ti-ii; 


finished  cur  own  dinners  in  New  En^^land,  we  give  to  our 
cats  and  dogs,  and  other  domestic  animals,  more  solid 
nourisiiment,  the  remnant  of  our  meals,  than  what  we  had 
often  allowed  us  in  the  ships  and  prisons  of  ^<  the  world's 
last  hope,'*  Pickering's  "/osi  anchored  isle.** 

Among  the  abuses  of  Dartmoor  prison,  was  that  of  al- 
lowing Jews  to  come  among  us  to  buy  clothes,  and  the  al- 
lowing some  other  people,  worse  than  Jews,  to  cheat  us  in 
the  articles  we  purchased.  How  far  our  keepers  went 
"  snacks"  M'ith  these  harpies,  we  never  could  know.  We 
only  suspected  that  they  did  not  enjoy  all  their  swindling 
privileges  gratuitously.  Before  the  immoral  practice  of 
gambling  was  introduced  and  countenanced,  it  was  no  un- 
usual t'ning  to  see  men  in  almost  every  birth,  reading,  or 
writing,  or  studying  navigation.  I  have  noticed  the  prog- 
ress of  vice  in  some,  with  pain  and  surprise.  I  have  seen 
men,  once  respectable,  give  examples  of  vice  that  I  cannot 
describe,  or  even  name  ;  and  1  am  fearful  (hat  some  of  our 
young  boys,  may  carry  home  to  their  hitherto  pure  and 
chaste  country,  vices  they  never  had  any  idea  of  when  they 
]eft  it.  1  believe  Frenchmen,  Italians,  and  Portuguese, are 
much  worse  examples  for  our  youth,  than  English,  Irish, 
or  Scotchmen.  1  must  say  of  the  British  that  they  are 
generally  men  of  far  better  habits  and  morals  than  some 
of  the  continental  nations.  But  enough,  and  more  than 
enough,  on  the  depravity  of  the  oldest  of  the  European  na- 
tions. 

February  28f/i,  -1815. — Time  hangs  heavily  on  the  wea- 
ry and  vestless  prisoner.  His  hopes  of  liberation,  and  his 
anxiety,  increase  daily  and  hourly.  The  Favorite  !  The 
Favorite^  is  in  every  one's  mouth ;  and  every  one  fixes  the 
day  of  her  arrival.  We  have  Just  heard  that  she  wiis 
spoken  near  the  coast  of  America,  by  the  Sultan,  a  British 
74,  on  the  2d  day  of  February.  If  so,  then  she  must  ar- 
rive in  a  few  days,  with  the  news  of  the  ratification  or  re- 
jection of  the  treaty  of  peace,  by  Mr.  Madisun  ;  and  on  this 
great  event  our  happiness  depends.  Some  of  the  English 
merchants  are  so  confident  that  our  president  will  ratify 
the  treaty,  that  (hey  are  sending  vast  quantities  of  Eng- 
lish manufactures  out  to  Halifax,  to  be  ready  to  thrust  in- 
to the  ports  of  America,  as  soon  as  we  shall  be  able,  le- 
gally, to  admit  them.  It  is  easy  tc  perceive  that  the  Eng- 
jish  are  much  more  anxious  to  send  us  their  productions, 
fhao  we  are  to  receive  them. 


JOURKAT.. 


175 


fr.. 


Oiir  anxiety  increases  every  day.  We  inquire  of  every 
one,  tlie  news.  We  wait  witli  impatience  for  the  newspa- 
pers, and  wlken  we  receive  them  are  disappointed  ;  not 
fiudini^  in  them  what  we  wish.  They,  to  besure,  speak  of 
t!»e  sitting  of  the  Vienna  Congress  ;  and  we  have  been  ex- 
pecting, every  day,  tiiat  this  political  old  hen  had  hatched 
out  her  various  sort  of  eggs.  We  expected  that  her  mot- 
ley brood  would  alford  us  some  fun.  Here  we  expected  to 
see  a  young  hawk,  and  tliere  agoslin,  and  next  a  strutting 
turkey,  and  then  a  dodo,  a  loon,  an  ostrich,  a  wren,  a  mag- 
pie, a  cuckoo,  and  a  wag-tail.  But  the  old  continental  hen 
has  now  set  so  long,  that  we  conclude  that  her  eggs  are 
addled,  and  incubation  frustrated.  During  all  this  time, 
the  Gallic  cock  is  ou  his  roost  at  Elba,  with  bis  head  ua- 
der  his  wing. 

We  but  now  and  then  get  a  sight  of  Cobbett's  Political 
Register;  and  when  we  do,  we  devour  it,  and  destroy  it, 
before  it  comes  to  the  knowledge  of  our  Cercebrus.     This 
writer  has  a  manner  sui  generis,  purely  his  own ;  but  it  is 
somewhat  surprising,  how  he  becomes  so  well  inforniL'd  of 
the  actual  state  of  things,  and  of  ihc  feelings  and  opinions 
of  both  parties  in  our  country.     His  acuteness,  his  wit,  his 
logic,  and  his  surliness,  form,  altogether,  a  curious  por- 
traiture of  an  English  politician.     We,  now  and  then, '>;et 
sight  of  American  papers,  but  they  are  almost  all  of  thcin 
federal   papers,  and  contain   matter  more   hostile   to  our 
government  than  the  English  papers.      The  most  detesta- 
ble paper  printed  in  London  is  called,  '^  The  Times,"  and 
that  is  often  thrown  in  our  way  ;  but  even  this  paper  is  not 
to  be  compared  to  the  "  Federal  Republican,"  printed  at 
Washington  or  Georgetown,  ur  to  the  Boston  federal  pa- 
pers.    VVhen  such  papers  are  shown  to  us  by  the  English 
here,  we  are  fairly  brought  up,  and  know  not  what  to  say. 
I  cannot  answer,  precisely,  for  the  impressions  governor 
Strong's  speeches  and  proclamations  have  made  on  others, 
1  can  only  answer  for  myself.     They  very  much  surprised 
and  grieved  me.  I  was  born  in  the  same  county  where  Mr. 
Strong  resided,  and  where,  I  believe,  he  has  always  lived, 
and  I   had  always   entertained  a  respect  for  his  serious 
character,  an<l   havt  <,  from  my  boyhood,  considered  him 
among  the  very  sensible  men,  and  even  saints  of  our  coun- 
try ;  and  all  my  connections  and  relations  gave  their  votes 
for  good  Caleb  Ibtrongf  on  whose  judgment  and  public  con* 


;^|;'i 

*'i\ 


■■,■      .» 


■  lit 


"i  '  ' '  'I 


■i'^ii;! 


■r.i 


\  ■  1 


176 


JOURNAL. 


'    -I    I 

.  J  7       i 


ii 


^1 


duct,  my  parents  taught  me  to  rely,  with  as  much  confi- 
dence as  if  he  had  actually  been  a  thirteenth  apostle. 
Juds;e  then  what  must  have  been  my  surprise,  on  reading 
his  proclamations  for  fasts  and  thanksgivings,  and  his 
speeches  and  messages  to  the  legislature,  and  his  conduct 
relative  to  the  general  government  and  t^e  militia;  and 
above  all,  for  his  strange  conduct  in  organizing  a  conven- 
tion of  malcontents  at  Hartford,  in  Connecticut.  No  event 
in  Mew  England  staggered  me  so  much.  When  we  learnt 
that  he  proclaimed  England  to  be  ^*  the  bulwark  of  the.  ho- 
ly religion  we  profess^**  1  concluded  that  it  was  a  party  ca- 
lumny -  uutil  1  saw  its  confirmation,  in  the  attempts  of  his 
friends  to  vindicate  the  assertion.  1  then  concluded,  that 
one  of  two  things  must  have  existed;  either  Mr.  Strong 
had  become  superannuated  and  childish,  or  that  the  Eng- 
lish Faction  had  got  behind  his  chair  of  government,  and 
under  the  table  of  the  counsel-board,  and  in  the  hollow 
pannels  of  his  audience  chamber,  and  completely  bewitch- 
ed our  political  Barzilla.  I  suspected  that  gang  of  Jesuits, 
the  Essex  JimtOf  had  put  out  his  eyes,  and  was  leading 
him  into  danger  and  disgrace.  It  is  undeniable,  that  gov- 
ernor Strong  has,  in  his  public  addresses,  sided  more  with 
the  declared  enemy,  Britain,  than  with  his  own  national 
government ;  and  that  he  has  said  a  great  deal,  tending  to 
encourage  the  enemy  to  persist  in  their  demands,  and  to 
pursue  the  war,  than  he  has  to  discourage  them.  It  ap- 
pears, in  truth,  that  the  English  consider  him,  in  a  great 
measure,  their  friend  and  well  wisher. 

Is  it  possible  that  governor  Strong  can  be  deluded  away 
by  the  missionary  and  bible  societies  of  Old  England,  so  as 
to  mistake  the  English  for  a  religious  people  ?  1  am  very 
«onfident,  that  there  is  less  religion,  or  appearance  of  it,  in 
London,  and  in  all  their  large  cities,  than  in  any  other  civ- 
ilized country,  of  the  same  numbers,  in  Europe.  Their  na- 
tional churches  are  empty,  while  their  streets  and  their 
harbors  are  full  of  lewdness  ;  and  they  have  more  thieves, 
gamblers,  forgers,  cheats  and  bawds,  than  any  other  na- 
tion upon  earth.  Add  to  this,  their  laws  are  bloody,  be- 
yond modern  example,  their  military  punishments  horri- 
ble, and  their  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war  a  disgrace  to 
the  name  of  christians.  Can  governor  Strong  be  totally 
ignorant  of  the  policy  of  some  in  patronizing  bible  and 
missionary  societies  ?  And  does  he  not  see  the  impractica- 


JOURNAt. 


177 


l>ill<y  of  I  he  scheme  eonieniplated  by  the  latter  ?  If  we  di- 
vide tlie  Ktioi'  tj  'toantries  of  the  s;lobe  into  thirty  equal 
purls,  /if^  Aiil  lie  fmiul  to  be  Christians^  sijc  JIa/tome.tana, 
UihI  NiNETi-fiN  Pagans,  It  isdiftieiilt  to  believe  thut  the 
iiiiit  iiiiiii,  liie  governor  and  commander  in  chief  of  tiie 
gre.vt  and  respectable  commonwealth  of  Massssachnsetts, 
can  seriously  expect  that  the  missionary  societies  of  Eng- 
land and  of  lioslon  can  etlect  this  immense  task  ?  Or  that  it 
ever  was  the  design  of  Providence,  that  all  the  families  of 
the  earth  should  think  alike  on  subjects  of  religion  ?  Let 
us  take  thio^^s  as  the  sons  of  men  have  always  found  them, 
and  n((t  presume  to  oppui^n  Providence,  who  has  decreed 
that  there  shall  be,  every  where,  men  of  different  colours, 
countenances,  voices,  manner  of  speaking;,  of  different  feel- 
ings and  views  of  things,  and  also  of  different  languages, 
and  of  different  opinions,  as  it  regards  the  Deity,  and  \\h 
government  of  the  world;  and  that  among  this  great,  and, 
doubtless,  necessary  diversity  of  the  views  of  him,  we  may 
have  the  most  pure  and  rational  system  of  any.  Let  us 
then  enjoy  that  system,  encourage  a  virtuous  education, 
and  love  one  another,  and  leave  to  his  direction  and  con- 
troul,  the  myriads  of^  rational  beings  on  earth,  of  whicli 
we,  christians,  make  so  small  a  part.  No,  no,  my  coun- 
trymen, if  governor  Strong  will  not  attend  exclusively  to 
the  mere  aflairs  of  the  state,  with  its  relative  duties,  and 
leave  the  great  world  to  the  legislation  of  its  i;reat  Crea- 
tor, you  had  better  allow  him  to  retire  to  Northanij  ton, 
there  to  study,  in  silence,  how  to  govern  his  own  hear', 
and  how  to  work  out  his  own  salvation,  instead  of  confiti- 
uing  the  tool  of  a  turbulent  and  vicious  party.  I  ;ill 
think  Mr.  Strong  is  a  man  of  good  intentions,  and  ar*  iion- 
est  patriot ;  but  that  he  has  been  deluded  by  artful  men, 
who  in  their  scheme  of  governing  the  whole  nation,  have 
foun<l  their  account  in  placing  at  the  head  of  their  party  iti 
Massachusetts,  a  man  of  correct  morals  and  manners,  and 
of  a  reputed  religious  cast  of  mind.  But  Mr.  Strong 
should  reflect,  and  being  a  plilegmatic  man,  he  is  able  to 
reflect  calmly,  and  consider  things  deliberately.  He  should 
reflect,  I  say,  on  the  impression  his  remarkable  conduct 
must  have  on  the  minds  of  his  countrymen,  who  have  risk- 
ed their  lives,  and  are  now  suflering  a  severe  bondage  in 
that  great  national  cause  of"/iVf  trade  and  no  impress- 
ment"  which  led  the  American  people  to  declare  war 

16* 


I,  :■!:: 

J/' A 


•n'jfe 


a-ffl 


K  y     . 


in 

1': '!p  i : 


\i:   .  '' 


^^^■^ 


M 


il  ' 


irs 


JOURXAL. 


I         |u1 


'I   I 


J  I' 


I' I' 


1. 1 


lli 


against  Britain,  by  the  voice  of  their  representafivcM,  In 
eon<^ress  assembled.  How  strange  and  how  painful  miiat 
it  appear  to  us,  and  to  our  friends  in  Europe,  that  the  (gov- 
ernor of  a  £!;reat  state  should  lean  more  towards  the  Prince 
Res^ent  of  Britain,  than  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States.  If,  therefore,  wc  consider  Mr.  Strong  as  a  sensi- 
ble and  a  correct  man,  and  a  true  patriot,  his  conduct  as 
governor  of  Massachusetts,  especially  as  to  the  time  of  or- 
s;anizin^  a  convention,  of  which  the  English  promised 
tlieniselves  countenance  and  aid,  mubt  have  appeared  mure 
than  strange  to  us  in  captivity. 

W  we  contemplate  the  character  of  the  leading  men  of 
(]!at  party  which  put  into  otilice,  and  still  supports  Gover- 
nor Strong,  and  with  whom  he  has  co-operated,  we  can- 
not clear  this  gentleman  of  reproach.  Previously  to  our 
late  contest  with  Britain,  it  was  the  unceasing  endeavor 
of  the  leaders  of  the  federal  party  to  bring  into  discredit 
and  contempt  the  worthiest  and  best  men  of  the  nation  ; 
to  ridicule  and  degrade  every  thing  American,  or  that  re- 
flected honor  on  the  American  Independence.  So  bitter 
was  their  animosity,  so  insatiate  their  thirst  for  power 
and  higli  places,  that  they  did  not  hesitate  to  advocate 
measures  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  grand  object, 
which  was  to  get  into  the  places  of  those  now  in  power. 
How  often  have  we  seen  the  party  declaring  in  their  venal 
prints  that  the  American  administration  was  base, and  cow- 
:irdly,  and  tamely  suiTering  the  outrages,  abuses  and  con- 
Jempt  of  the  nations  of  Europe,  without  possessing  the 
spirit  to  resent,  or  the  power  to  resist  them  ;  and  that  "M?e 
i-ould  not  be  kicked  into  a  war.'*  Yet  after  the  administra- 
lion  had  exhausted  every  eflort  to  bring  England  to  do 
justice,  and  war  was  declared,  these  very  federalists  call- 
ed the  act  wicked  and  inhuman,  and  denounced  the  Presi- 
dent for  plunging  the  country  into  hostilities  wiih  the 
mistress  of  the  ocean,  the  most  powerful  nation  of  the 
earth.  They  called  tliis  act  of  Congress,  "  Madison's 
IVar,^''  and  did  every  thing  in  their  power  to  render  that 
upright  man  odious  in  the  eyes  of  the  unthinking  part  of 
the  community.  This  was  not  all  ;  these  arrogant  men, 
assumed  to  themselves  all  the  talents  and  all  the  virtues 
of  the  country,  used  every  mean  in  their  power  to  paralyze 
the  arm  of  government,  and  reduce  the  energies  of  the  na- 
tion, ill  the  face  and  front  of  our  adversary.    By  argn* 


JOUHNAL. 


±79 


nients  and  threat:^,  they  induced  the  nionied  men  in  Mas- 
sachusetls,  very  generally  to  refuse  loans  of  money  to 
government,  and  to  ruin  our  resources.  Did  not  this  par- 
ty, denominated  federalists^  exult  at  the  disasters  of  our 
arms  ;  and  did  they  not  vote  in  the  Senate  of  Massachu- 
setts,  that,  it  was  unworthy  a  religious  and  moral  people, 
to  rejoice  at  the  immortal  achievements  of  our  gallant  sea- 
men ?  In  the  midst  of  our  difficulties,  when  this  power- 
ful enemy  threatened  us  by  sea  and  land,  with  a  powerful 
force  from  Penobscot,  another  through  Lake  Champlain, 
another  landed  at  the  Chesapeake,  while  nothing  but  re- 
sistance and  insurgency  was  talked  of  and  hinted  at  with- 
in. In  this  stale  of  tl^'ings,  and  with  these  circumstances, 
did  not  Governor  Strong,  and  the  federal  party  generally, 
seize  hold  of  this  alarming  state  of  our  atlairs,  to  call  the 
Convention  at  Hartford,  and  that  not  merely  to  perplex 
the  government,  but  to  be  the  organ  of  communication  be- 
tween the  enemy  and  the  malcontents  ?  Did  they  not  then 
talk  loudly  of  our  worm  eaten  Constitution,  and  did  they 
not  call  the  Union  "  a  rope  ofsand,''^  that  could  no  longer 
hold  together  }  If  there  be  a  line  of  transgression,  beyond 
the  bounds  of  forgiveness,  the  leaders  of  that  party,  who 
put  Mr.  Strong  up  for  Governor,  have  attained  it.  These 
things  I  gather  from  the  papers,  and  from  the  his^tory  of 
the  day,  as  1  have  collected  them  since  my  return  home. 
And  to  all  this  must  be  added  the  damning  fact  of  Te  De- 
nnis, orations,  toasts,  anf?  processions  of  the  clerp,*y,jitdg< 
es,  with  all  the  leaders  g1  ihe  federal,  or  opposition  party, 
on  the  success  of  the  Spaniards  in  restoring  the  Inquisition, 
and  recalling  the  reign  of  superstition  and  terror,  against 
which  we  have  been  preaching  and  praying  ever  since  the 
iirst  settlement  of  our  country. 

Our  American  newspapers,  if  they  are  not  so  correctly 
written  as  the  London  papers,  are  informing  and  amusing. 
They  show  the  euterprize,  the  activity,  and  the  daring 
thoughts  of  a  free  and  an  intrepid  people  ;  while  the  Lon- 
don  papers  are  tilled  with  a  catalogue  of  nobles  and  no' 
b'esses,  who  were  assembled  to  bow,  to  flatter,  to  critnge, 
and  to  prink  at  the  levee  of  the  Great  Prince  Regent,  the 
presumptive  George  the  1  Vth,  with  now  an<^  then  some  ac- 
count of  his  wandering  wife,  the  Princess  of  Wales.  We 
are  there  also  entertaiii.'d  with  a  daily  account  of  the 
health  and  gestation  q£  Joanna  Houthcote)  for  whose  repa» 


V 

pi  ■ 


'^:M 


^VK.   ' 


*       I 


H  ■ 


... i:'  ,1^ 


iSO 


JOURNAL. 


6vl 


talion  and  welfare,  tliiiikinsj  Johnny  Bull  is  vastly  anx« 
ioas.  visitmui'h  that  uere  aii}  coiitiir  uuii  iiiilii.;  lo  lun 
obsllnuN.')-,  'Mninti-rto  tlie  {loiutiar  opnnon  risjicctinij;  her, 
we  do  dtfHi  il  not  inipossihle  that  llie  niajuntj  oftiie  na- 
tion nutjlit  lie  led  to  sij^n  a(J<ire.s.s(»s  lo  the  Prnne  lo  £^0  to 
war  nith  tliem,  in  honor  of  Saint  JoaoPti  !  I  Iumt  jiupeis 
likewise  contiiin  a  pitrlicnlar  ai-eount  01  ihe  examiniition  uf 
roj^iies  !>y  the  Bow-^lreet  ottiet^rs.  Ijiajiivvav  roi>b«  ries,  and 
exeentions ;  top;ether  with  quack  putl's  and  miraeulous 
cnres  These,  together  with  the  most  e;iorious  and  un- 
parrall.h  (1  bravery  of  tbeir  ollicers  and  seamen,  and  of 
their  -  'oerals  and  sohliers,  with  tlie  hiu;he»t  enconiuuns 
on  t'le  jf  !ij5ion.  the  learning;,  the  i^enerosit^,  eont«'iilnieiit 
aM?i  hao;  iness  of  the  people  of  Britain  and  Ireland,  make 
u;)  '  ;ui  and  substance  of  all  the  London  papeis,  IVil- 
lunn  CibbftL's  alone  excepted  ;  and  he  speaks  with  a  bri- 
dle r,i  ttis  mouth  ! 

Thii^  montli  (Febrnary)  Captain  Shortland  stopped  the 
market  for  six  days,  in  consequence  oi"  some  unruly  fellows 
taking  away  certain  wooden  stanchions  froui  Prison  JNo. 
6.  But  the  old  market  women,  eonceiviui;  that  the  Cap- 
tain encroached  upon  their  copy-hold,  would  not  quietly 
submit  to  it.  They  told  him  that  as  the  men  were  j^oing 
away  soon,  it  was  cruel  to  curtail  their  traffic.  We  al- 
ways believed  that  these  market  women,  and  the  shop  and 
stall  keepers,  and  Jews,  purchased  in  some  way  or  other 
the  unequal  traffic  between  th^m  and  us.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  Shortland  could  not  resist  the  commercial  interest, 
so  that  he,  like  r:ood  Mr.  Jetterson,  listened  to  the  clamor 
ftf  the  merchants,  and  raised  the  embargo. 

No  sooner  was  quiet  restored,  and  the  eld  women  and 
Jews  pacified,  but  a  serious  uiscoufcnt  arose  among  the 
prisoners,  on  discovering  th.t  these  Jews,  of  all  complex- 
ions, had  raised  the  price  of  (Sieir  articles,  on  the  idea,  we 
supposed,  that  we  should  not  aiucli  longer  remain  the  sub- 
jects of  their  impositions.  The  rough  allies^  a  sort  of  reg- 
ulators, who  were  too  stout,  and  most  commonly  too  inso- 
lent, to  be  governed  by  our  regular  and  moderate  commit- 
tees, turned  out  in  a  great  rage,  and  tore  down  several  of 
the  small  shops,  or  stalls,  where  slops  were  exposed  for 
sale.  These  fellows  at  length  organized  themselves  into 
a  company  of  plunderers  1  have  seen  men  run  from  their 
sleeping  births,  in  which  they  spent  nearly  their  whole 


JOURNAL. 


181 


time,  tnd  plunder  these  little  shop  keepers,  and  carry  the 
articles  they  plundered,  and  secrete  them  in  their  beds. 
These  mobs,  or  gangs  of  robbers,  were  a  scandal  to  the 
American  character,  and  strongly  reprobated  by  every 
man  of  honor  in  the  prisons.  Some  of  these  little  mer- 
chants found  themselves  stripped  of  all  they  possessed  in 
a  fevir  minutes,  on  the  charge  of  exorbitant  prices.  We 
never  rested,  nor  allo^ved  these  culprits  to  rest,  until  we 
saw  the  cat  laid  well  on  their  backs.  These  plunderings 
were  in  consequence  of  informers,  and  there  was  no  name, 
not  even  that  of  a  federalist,  was  so  odious  with  all  the 
prisoners,  as  that  of  an  informer.  We  never  failed  to 
punish  an  informer.  Nothing  but  the  advanced  age  of  a 
man,  (who  was  sixty  years  old)  prevented  him  from  being 
whipped  for  informing  Capt.  Shortland  of  what  the  old 
man  considered  an  injury,  and  for  which  he  put  the  man 
accused,  into  the  black  hole.  An  informer,  a  traitor,  and 
an  avowed  federalist,  were  objects  of  detestation  at  Dart- 
moor. 

During  the  time  that  passed  between  the  news  of  peace, 
and  that  of  its  ratification,  an  uneasy  and  mob  like  dispo- 
sition, more  than  once  betrayed  itself.  Three  impressed 
American  seamen  had  been  sent  in  here  from  a  British 
ship  of  war,  since  the  peace.  They  were  on  board  the 
Pelican,  in  the  action  with  the  American  ship  Argus, 
when  fell  our  brave  captain  Allen.  One  day,  when  all 
three  were  a  little  intoxicated,  they  boasted  of  the  feuts 
they  performed,  in  fighting  against  their  own  countrymen  ; 
and  even  boasted  of  the  prize  money  they  had  shared  for 
capturing  the  Argus.  This  our  prisoners  could  not  endure  ; 
and  it  soon  reached  the  ears  of  the  rough  allien,  who  seized 
them,  and  kicked  and  cuffed  them  about  unmercifully  ; 
and  they  took  one  of  them,  who  had  talked  more  impru- 
dently than  the  rest,  and  led  him  to  the  lamp  iron  that  pro- 
jected from  one  of  the  prisons,  and  would  in  all  probabili- 
ty, have  hanged  him  thereon,  had  not  Shortland  rescued 
hiip  by  an  armed  force.  They  had  fixed  a  paper  on  the 
fellow's  breast,  on  which  was  written  in  large  letters,  Jl 
Traitor  and  a  Federalist. 

It  may  seem  strange  to  some,  but  T  am  confideut  that 
there  is  no  class  of  people  among  us  mure  stronirly  attach- 
ed to  the  American  soil,  than  our  seamen,  who  are  float- 
ing about  the  world  and  seldom  tread  on  the  orround.  The 


hIi^ 


'].l": 

i!!;;| 


m 


'Jlfv  ■,,!i  j 


m- 


18^ 


JOURNAL. 


f.-4  < 


U'l^ 


\{  I' 


i*i  <  I 


ii  I 


:l^ 


!:i:'l 


sailor  who  roams 
treatment  and  ex 
counlrymeii.     Tin 
nierelianl  sliips  tli 
veutiires,  enlurs^os 


bout  the  world,  marks  the  diflferenee  of 
its  ia  the  superior  advantages  of  his 
American  custom  of  allowins;  on  board 
:  common  sailors  to  trafiic  a  little  in  ad- 
tbeir  views,  makes  them  think  and  en- 
quire,  and  excites  an  interest  in  the  sales  of  the  whole  car- 
go. The  common  sailor  here  feels  a  sort  of  unity  of  in- 
terest; and  he  is  habituated  to  feel  as  a  member  of  the 
floating  store-house  which  he  is  navigating.  It  is  doubt- 
ful whether  the  British  sailor  feels  any  thing  of  this. 

1  have  had  often  to  remark  on  the  tyrannical  conduct 
and  unfeeling  behaviour  of  Captain  Shortland,  but  he  had 
for  it  the  excuse  of  an  enemy ;  but  the  neglect  of  Mr.  Beas- 
ley,  with  his  supercilious  behaviour  towards  his  country- 
men here  confined,  admits  of  no  excuse.  He  was  bound  to 
assist  us  and  befriend  us,  and  to  listen  to  our  reasonable 
cuniplaints.  When  negro  John  wrote  to  his  Royal  High- 
ness the  Duke  of  Kent,  son  of  king  George  the  3d,  and 
brother  of  the  Prince  Regent,  he  received  an  answer  in 
terms  of  kindness  and  reason ;  but  Mr.  Beaslcy,  who  was 
paid  by  our  government  for  being  our  agent,  and  oflii^ial 
friend,  never  condescended  to  answer  our  letters,  and  if 
they  ever  were  noticed,  it  was  in  the  style  of  reproof — His 
conduct  is  here  condemned  by  six  thousand  oi'his  country- 
men, and  as  many  curses  are  da'ly  uttered  on  him  in  this 
prison.  It  is  almost  treason  in  this  our  dismal  Common- 
wealth  or  rather  common  misery,  to  speak  in  his  favour. 
If  Shortland  and  Beasley  were  both  drowning,  and  one 
only  could  be  taken  out  by  the  prisoners  of  Dartmoor,  I 
believe  in  my  soul,  that  that  one  would  be  Shortland;  for 
as  1  said  before,  he  has  the  excuse  of  an  enemy. 

The  prisoners  have  been  long  determined  to  testify  their 
feelings  towards  Mr  BeAf/ley,  before  they  left  Dartmoor, 
and  the  time  for  it  has  arrived.  The  most  ingenious  of 
our  countrymen  are  now  making  a  figure  icst^mblance,  or 
cfligy  of  this  distinguished  parsonage.  One  has  contribu- 
ted a  coat,  another  pantaloon-,  another  a  shirt  bosuni  or 
frill,  another  a  stuffed  out  cravat,  and  so  they  have  made 
up  a  pri  tty  genteel,  haughty  looking  gentleman  agent, 
with  heart  and  brains  full  equal,  thev  think,  to  the  person 
whom  they  wish  to  represent       I'hey  eulUil   this   figure 

Mr.  B .      They  tlien  br<tUi^hl  him  to  trial.      Me  was 

indicted  for  many  crimes  towards  them  and  towards  tho 


JOURNAL. 


188 


character  of  the  United  States.  The  jury  declared  him 
guilty  of  each  and  every  chara;e,  and  he  was  sentenced  hy 
an  nnanimons  decree  of  his  judges,  tu  he  hanc^ed  by  the 
neck  iinlil  lie  was  dead,  and  after  that  to  be  burnt.  They 
proceeded  with  him  to  the  place  of  execution,  which  was 
from  the  roof  of  prison  No.  7,  where  a  pole  was  rii^j^ed  out, 
to  which  was  attached  an  halter.  After  silence  was  pro- 
claimed, the  halter  was  fastened  round  the  neck  of  the  ef- 
fi|>;y,  and  then  a  solemn  pause  ensued,  which  apparent  so- 
lemiiity  was  beBtting  the  character  of  men  who  were  con- 
vinced of  the  necessity  of  the  punishment  of  the  .guilty, 
while  they  felt  for  (he  sutferings  and  shame  of  a  fellow- 
mortal.  After  hanging  the  proper  time,  the  hangman, 
who  was  a  negro,  cut  him  down ;  and  then  the  rough  al- 
lies  took  possession  of  him,  and  conducted  him  to  a  con- 
venient spot  in  the  yard,  where  they  burnt  him  to  ashes.—. 
This  was  not,  like  the  plunder  of  the  shop-keepers,  the 
conduct  of  an  infuriate  mob;  but  it  was  begun  and  carried 
through  by  some  of  the  steadiest  men  within  the  walls  of 
Dartmoor  prison.  They  said  they  had  no  other  way  of 
testifying  their  contempt  of  a  man,  who  they  supposed  had 
injured  them  all,  and  disgraced  their  country.  Such  was 
the  fact;  as  to  the  justness  of  their  charges,  I  have  noth- 
ing to  say.  I  hope  Mr.  B.  can  vindicate  his  conduct  to 
the  world,  and  I  hope  this  publication  may  lead  to  a  thing 
so  much  wished  for. 

During  all  this  solemn  farce,  poor  Shortland  looked  like 
a  culprit  under  sentence  of  death.  Some  of  the  rogues  had 
written,  with  chalk,  on  the  walls,  Be  you  also  ready! 
This  commander's  situation  could  not  be  an  enviable  one. 
He  was,  probably,  as  courageous  a  man  as  the  ordinary 
run  of  British  otficers  :  but  it  was  plainly  discoverable  that 
he  was  half  his  time  in  dread,  and  duiiiig  the  scene  just 
described,  in  terror,  which  was  perceivable  amidst  his  af- 
fected smiles,  and  assumed  gaiety.  He  told  a  gentleman^ 
belonging  to  this  depot,  that  he  never  saw,  nor  ever  read, 
or  heard  of  such  a  set  of  Devil-darings  God-provoking;  fel- 
lows^ as  these  same  yankees.  And  he  added,  I  had  rather 
have  the  charge  of  jive  thousand  Frenchmen,  than  five 
HUNDRED  of  these  sons  of  liberty  ;  and  yet,  said  he,  1  love 
the  dogs  better  than  I  do  the  damn* d  frog-eaters. 

On  the  .3()th  of  March  we  received  the  heart-cheering? 
news  of  the  total  defeat  of  the.  British  army  before  New- 


Iv" 


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184 


JOURNAL. 


|, «    jri 


Orleans,  with  the  death  of  its  commauder  in  chief,  Sir 
Edward  Fackenham^  and  Generals  Gihbs  and  Kean,  with 
a  threat  number  of  other  offlcers,  and  about  five  thousand 
rank  and  file  killed  and  wounded ;  and  what  appeared  to 
he  absolutely  incredible,  this  unexampled  slaughter  of  (he 
enemy  was  achieved  with  the  loss  of  less  than  twenty  kill- 
ed and  wounded  on  our  side.  Instead  of  shouting  and  re- 
joicing, as  in  ordinary  victories,  we  seemed  mute  with  as- 
tonishment. Yes  !  when  we  saw  the  Englishmen  walking 
with  folded  arms,  looking  down  on  the  ground,  we  had  not 
the  heart  to  exult,  especially  as  the  war  was  now  ended. 
I  speak  for  myself — there  was  no  event  that  tended  so 
much  to  reconciliation  and  forgiveness  as  this  immense 
slaughter  of  the  English.  We  felt  that  this  victory  was 
too  bloody  not  to  stifle  loud  exultation. 

We  had  heard  ofOenerals  Dearborn,  Brown,  Seott,  Rip- 
ley, Gaines  and  Miller,  but  no  one  knew  who  General  »Bn- 
drew  Jackson  was ;  but  wt  said  that  it  was  a  New  England 
name,  and  we  had  no  doubt  but  he  was  a  full  blooded  yan- 
kee,  and  that  there  were  many  of  that  name  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts,  Vermont,  Rhode  Island  and  Con- 
necticut. Eat  1.  have  shice  heard  that  he  was  a  village 
lawyer  in  Tennessee,  and  si  native  of  South  Carolina. 

The  more  particulars  we  hear  of  this  extraordinary 
victorv,  the  more  we  are  astonished.  We  cannot  be  too 
grateful  to  Heaven  for  allowing  us,  a  people  of  yesterday, 
to  wind  up  the  war  with  the  great  and  terrible  nation,  the 
mistress  of  the  ocean,  in  a  manner  and  style  that  will  in- 
spire respect  from  the  present  and  future  race  of  men. 
Nothing  now  is  thought  of  or  talked  of,  but  J^Tew  Orleans 
and  Jackson,  and  Jackson  and  JVew  Orleans.  We  already 
perceive  that  M'e  are  treated  with  more  respect,  and  our 
country  spoken  of  in  honorable  terms.  The  language 
now  is—- we  are  all  one  of  the  same  people.  You  have  all 
English  blood  in  your  veins,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  you 
fight  bravely !  Sometimes  they  have  uttered  the  slang  of 
*'  The  Times f""  and  cast  reflections  on  the  government,  and 
on  President  Madison,  but  we  have  always  resented  it, 
Dor  do  we  ever  allow  any  one  to  speak  disgracefully  of 
«ur  illustrious  chief  magistrate. 

About  the  middle  of  the  present  month,  (March)  we 
received  the  news  of  the  landing  of  Napoleon  in  France, 
while  every  one  here  # apposed  him  snug  at  Elba.    The 


s  victory  was 


JOURNAL. 


185 


uews  came  to  England,  and  passed  through  it  like  thun- 
der and  lightning,  currying  with  it  astonishment  and  dis- 
may. But  as  much  as  they  dread,  and  of  course  hate  Bo- 
naparte, the  British  cannot  but  admire  his  fortune  and  his 
glory.  There  are  a  number  of  Frenchmen  yet  here,  and 
it  is  impossible  for  man  to  shew  more  joy  at  this  news 
from  France.  They  collected  together,  and  shouted  Vive 
I'Empereur  !  and  the  Yankees  joined  them,  with  huzza  fur 
Bonaparte,  and  this  we  kept  up  incessantly,  to  plut^ue  the 
British.  The  English  bear  any  thing  from  us  with  mor«^ 
patience,  than  our  expressions  of  affection  for  the  Empero 
Napoleon.     Now  the  fact  is,  we   care 


French,  than  they  do  for  us  ;  and  there 


no  more  for  tl 
is  but  little  love 
between  us  ;— yet  we  pretend  great  respect  and  affection 
for  that  nation,  and  their  chief  principally  to  torment 
overbearing  surly  John  Bull,  who  thinks  that  we  ought  to 
love  nobody  but  him,  while  he  himself  never  does  any  thing 
to  inspire  that  love. 

About  the  20th  of  this  month,  we  received  the  heart 
cheering  tidings  of  the  Ratification  OF  the  Treaty 
OF  Peace,  by  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
This  long  expected  event  threw  us  all  into  such  a  raptur- 
ous roar  of  joy,  that  we  made  old  Uartmoor  shake  under 
us.  with  our  shouts  ;  and  to  testify  our  satisfaction  we  il- 
luminated this  depot  of  misery.  Even  Shortland  affected 
joy,  and  was  seen  more  than  once,  like  Milton's  Devil,  to 
''  grin  horribly  a  ghastly  smile.** 

As  there  can  be  now  no  longer  a  doubt  of  our  being  soou 
&et  at  liberty,  our  attention  is  directed  to  the  ageni  for 
prisoners  for  fixing  the  time  and  arrang;ing  the  means. 
Mr.  Beasley  had  written  that  as  i»oon  as  the  Treaty  was 
ratified,  he  would  make  every  exertion  for  our  speedy  de- 
parture. He  must  be  aware  of  our  extreme  impatience,  to 
leave  this  dreary  spot,  %vhose  brown  and  grassless  surface 
renders  it  a  place  more  proper  for  convicts,  than  an  assem- 
blage of  patriots. 

We  are  all  watching  the  countenance  and  conduct  of  our 
surl)  keeper,  Shortland  ;  and  it  is  the  general  opinion  that 
he  is  deeply  chagrined  at  the  idea  of  no  longer  domineer- 
ing over  us.  It  may  he.,  also,  that  the  peace  may  reduce 
him  to  half  pay  I,  myself,  am  of  opinion  that  he  is  dis- 
fifttisfied  at  the  idea  of  our  escaping  his  fanr^s,  with  whole 
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JOURNAL. 


skins  ;  and  liis  dark  and  sullen  countenance  gathers  every 
day  additional  blackness. 

Jpril  4:th^ — The  contractor's  clerk  being  desirous  to 
get  off  his  hands  the  hard  biscuit,  which  had  been  held  in 
reserve  in  case  of  bad  weather,  attempted  to  serve  it  out 
to  the  prisoners  at  this  time  ;  but  the  committee  refused  to 
receive  it.  Nothing  but  hard  bread  was  served  out  to 
them  this  day.  In  the  evening,  several  hundred  of  the 
prisoners  entered  the  market  square,  and  demanded  their 
ioft  bread  ;  but  it  was  refused.  The  officers  persuaded 
tfaem  to  retire,  but  they  would  not,  before  they^ received 
tlieir  usual  soft  bread.  The  military  officers,  finding  that 
it  was  in  vain  to  appease  them,  as  they  had  but  about 
three  hundred  militia  to  guard  five  or  six  thousand,  com- 
plied with  their  request,  and  all  was  quietness  and  content- 
ment. 

During  this  little  cotnmotion,  Captaiii  Shortland  was 
gone  fpom  home.  He  returned  next  day,  when  he  express- 
ed his  dissatisfaction  at  the  comluct  of  the  military,  who 
he  said,  should  not  have  complied  with  the  demand  of  the 
prisoners.  As  it  was,  however,  past,  and  the  prisoners 
were  tranquil,  and  no  signs  of  dtsturbaoce  remaining,  he 
grew  pacified. 

On  tbe  4th  of  April,  we  received  intelligence,  which  we 
supposed  correct,  that  seven  cartel  ships  were  to  sail  from 
the  Thames  for  Plymouth,  to  transport  us  home,  and  that 
several  more  were  in  preparation.  This  inspired  us  with 
high  spirits  and  good  humor  ;  and  I  distinctly  remember 
that  the  prisoners  appeared  to  enjoy  their  amusements, 
such  as  playing  ball  and  the  like,  beyond  what  1  had  be- 
fore observed.  We  all,  in  fact,  felt  light  hearted,  from 
the  expectation  of  soon  leaving  this  dreary  abode,  to  re- 
turn to  our  dear  homes,  and  adored  country.  But  how 
was  the  scene  changed  before  the  light  of  another  day  ! 
Dead  and  wounded  men,  blood  and  horror,  made  up  the 
scenery  of  this  fatal  evening  ! 

The  best  account  that  could  possibly  be  given,  is  that  of 
a  respectable  committee,  selected  from  among  the  be^t 
characters  in  this  large  assemblage  of  American  priKoners. 
The  greater  part  of  this  committee,  Wicre  men  of  no  mean 
talents.  They  were  not  young  men,  but  had  arrived  at 
that  period  of  life,  when  judgment  is  the  soundest,  and 
when  passion  does  not  betray  reason.    The  anxiety  of  all 


m 

'^>: 

^-T^ 


JOURNAL. 


187 


to  know  the  truth,  and  the  solemn  manner  in  whieh  the 
evidence  was  collected  and  given,  stamped  the  transaction 
with  the  characters  of  truth.  I  did  not  see  the  beginning 
of  this  affray.  I  was,  with  most  of  the  other  prisoners, 
eating  my  evening's  meal  in  the  building,  when  I  heard 
the  alarm  hell,  and  soon  after  a  volley  of  musketry.  There 
were,  1  believe,  before  the  alarm  bell  rung,  a  few  hundred 
prisoners,  scattered  here  and  there  about  the  yards,  as 
usual;  but  I  had  no  idea  of  any  particular  collection  of 
thorn,  nor  had  I  any  suspicion  of  any  commotion  existing, 
or  meditated.  But  1  forbear  ;  and  will  here  insert  the  re- 
port of  the  committee,  in  the  correctness  of  which  I  place 
an  entire  confidence. 


\  ¥ 


ft'      '    : 

f:  ■  I  ■  : 


u 


DARTMOOR  jMASSACRE. 


Having  seen  in  print  several  diflferent  statements  of  the  massa- 
cre of  the  American  prisoners  of  war  at  Dartmoor,  and,  on  perusal^ 
finding,  that,  though  they' corroborate  each  other,  as  to  the  leading  facts, 
yet  it  seems  the  public  are  not  in  possession  of  all  the  particulars  neces- 
sary to  form  a,  proper  judgment  of  the  same. 

While  in  prison,  we  having  been  members  of  the  committee  through 
whom  was  transacted  all  their  {mblic  business,  and  thrsugh  whose  hands 
passed  all  their  correspondence  with  their  agent  in  London,  and  having 
in  our  possession  several  documents  relating  to  the  before  mentioned 
brutal  butchery,  we  deem  it  a  duty  we  owe  to  our  murdered  countryraea 
and  fellow-citizens  in  general  to  have  them  published. 

Acspeeting  the  conduct  of  T.  G.  Shortland,  (commander  of  the 
depot  of  Dartmoor)  prior  to  the  bloody  and  ever  meranrable  sixth  of 
April,  it  was  a  series  of  continued  insult,  injury  and  vexation  to  the  pris- 
oners generally.  Incapable  of  appreciating  the  beneficial  effects  of  the 
liberal  policy  of  a  gentleman,  his  sole  study  appeared  to  be  devising  means 
to  render  the  situation  of  the  prisoners  as  disagreeable  as  possible.  To 
instanced  few  of  his  proceedings  will  sufficiently  warrant  the  foregoing  as- 
sertion. His  conduct  to  the  American  officers  was  marked  with  pecu« 
liar  baseness  and  indignity.  In  the  construction  of  the  depot  at  Dart- 
moor, there  was  a  separate  prison,  built  and  enclosed  for  the  more  com- 
modious accommodation  of  those  officers  (prisoners  of  war)  who  were 
not  considered  by  them  entitled  to  a  parole.  Instead  of  Shortland  allow- 
ing those  officers  to  occupy  that  prison,  they  were  turned  into  the  other 
prisons  promiscuously,  with  their  men.  His  conduct  to  the  prisoners 
generally  was  of  the  same  stamp.  There  not  being,  at  any  time,  a  suf- 
ficient number  to  occupy  all  the  prisons,  he  kept  the  two  best,  which 
were  built  by  the  Frenchmen  during  their  confinement,  and  more  con- 
veniently fitted  for  the  accommodation  of  prisoners,  shut  and  unoccupi- 
ed, wh  ie  the  upper  stories  of  those  prisons  in  which  the  Americans  were 
put,  were  in  such  a  state,  that  on  every  rain  storm  the  floors  were  near- 
ly inundated.     The  pernicious  effect  this  had  on  the  health  of  the  pris- 


mi, 


183 


JOURNAL. 


oners  may  be  easily  judged  of  by  the  great  mortality  that  preTalleil 
among  them  during  the  last  winter  season. 

Another  instance  of  his  murderous  disposition,  was  his  ordering  his 
Mards  to  fire  into  the  prisons,  when,  at  any  time,  a  light  was  seen  burn- 
ing during  the  night,  as  specified  in  the  general  report.  While  the 
Frenchmen  were  confined  in  that  depot,  it  was  a  custom  for  the  turnkey, 
-with  a  sentry,  to  go  into  each  prison,  and  see  the  lights  extinguished  at 
a  stated  hour ;  although  frequently  lighted  again  there  was  no  further 
molestation.  Instead  of  pursuing  this  plan  with  the  Americans,  Short- 
land  gave  orders  for  the  guards  to  fire  into  the  prisons  whenever  there 
should  be  a  light  burning.  Frequently,  on  the  most  trivial  occasions,  he 
"would  prevent  the  prisoner^,  for  ten  days  at  a  tin>e,  from  purchasing,  in 
the  market,  of  the  country  people,  such  articles  of  comfort  and  conven- 
xenco  as  their  scanty  means  would  admit  of.  His  last  act  of  this  kind, 
was  but  a  short  time  previous  to  tbe  massacre,  and  his  alledged  reason  for 
it  was,  that  the  prisoners  would  not  deliver  up  to  him  a  man  wU«k  had 
made  his  escape  from  the  black  hole,  (a  place  of  confinement  for  crim- 
inals) and  had  taken  refuge  among  the  prisoners  in  general.  This  man 
vas  one  of  a  prize  crew,  who  was  oonfined  in  that  dark  and  loathsome 
cell,  on  a  short  allowance  of  provisions,  from  June,  1814,  until  the  ratifi- 
eation  of  the  treaty.  On  that  man  being  demanded,  the  prisoners  stated 
to  Shortland,  that  they  did  not  presume  that  the  Biitish  government 
would  expect  them  to  stand  sentry  over  each  other — that  he  might  send 
his  turnkeys  and  soldiers  in  and  look  for  the  man,  but  they  would  not 
■eek  him  and  deliver  him  up— upon  which  he  ordered  the  military  to 
£re  upon  tbe  prisoners,  but  owing  to  the  coolness  and  deliberation  of  the 
then  commanding  military  officer,  in  restraining  them,  this  order  was 
not  obeyed. 

To  sum  up  the  whole  in  a  few  words,  his  eondurt,  throughout,  was 
marked  by  the  same  illiberal  prejudice,  overbearing  insult,  and  savage 
barbarity,  which  characterises  the  majority  of  English  officers  when  they 
bave  Americans  in  their  power. 

The  enclosed  papers,  from  No.  1  to  16  inclusive,  are  the  depositions 
taken  by  the  committee  of  investigation  on  the  7th.  Colonel  Ayre  ar- 
rired  from  Plymouth  and  took  command  of  this  depot.  Shortland  sent 
in  a  message  to  the  committee,  requesting  their  attendance  at  his  office, 
to  which  was  returned  for  answer,  that  considerine  him  a  murderer,  they 
were  determined  to  have  no  eommunication  with  him — but  added,  if  the 
commanding  officer  from  Plymouth  had  any  thing  to  communicate,  they 
would  wait  on  him;  and,  at  his  request,  they  went  up  to  the  gate,  where 
they  stated  to  him  all  the  particulars  of  the  affitir. 

He  expressed  great  regret  for  what  had  occurred,  and  assured  the  pris- 
oners that  no  further  violence  should  be  used  upon  them.  In  the  mean 
time  Shortland  made  his  appearance.  Instantly  the  indignant  cry  of 
murderer,  scoundrel,  villain,  burst  from  the  lips  of  hundreds.  The 
guilty  wretch  stood  appalled,  not  daring  to  oifer  a  syllable  in  vindication 
of  his  conduct;  but  with  a  pallid  visage  and  trembling  step,  returned  to 
his  guard-house,  from  whence  he  was  never  seen  to  emerge  while  we  re- 
mained there.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  rear  admiral  and  post  captain 
arrived  from  Plymouth,  sept  by  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  commander  in 
ehief  on  that  station,  to  enquire  into  the  transaction  ;  to  whom  we  like- 
wise fully  stated,  by  the  committee,  ail  the  particulars,  together  with 
Siiortland's  previous  infamous  conduct.  Their  scandalous  misrepresen- 
tation of  the  same  to  the  admiralty  board,  as  will  be  seen  in  their  state- 
ment No.  20,  is  truly  churucterisitc  uf  the  British  official  aecuunts.     We 


m-»- 


JOURNAL. 


189 


likewise  wrote  to  Mr.  Beasly  on  that  day,  giving  him  a  short  Iiistory  of 
the  affair,  but  as  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  letter,  we 
concluded  it  had  been  intercepted.  On  the  14th  we  received  a  lettcc 
from  him  dated  the  I2th,  ot  which  No  18  is  a  copy — in  answer  to  which 
No.  19  is  a  copy.  On  the  l6th  we  received  another  from  him,  of  which 
No.  20  is  a  copy  ;  in  the  interim  he  had  seen  a  copy  ol  o|^r  report,  senC 
by  a  private  conveyance,  which  seemed  to  have  greatly  altered  his  opiu* 
i)n  concerning  the  affair.  In  his  letter  of  tiie  14th  was  an  extract  from 
the  statement  or  report  sent  him  by  the  admiralty  board  Un  receiving 
which  we  wrote  to  admiral  Duckworth,  of  which  No  21  is  a  copy. 

On  tbe  2'2d  of  April,  Mr  King,  appointed  by  the  American  agents  at 
London,  and  a  Mr.  Larpent  on  the  part  of  the  government,  with  a  mng- 
istrate  of  the  county  of  Devon,  arrived  at  the  depot  to  investigate  the  af- 
fair; they  were  employed  the  greater  part  of  three  days  in  taking  the 
depositions  respecting  the  same ;  and  though  we  would  not  hastily  pre- 
judge Mr.  King's  report,  we  deem  it  necessary  to  state,  that  our  antici- 
pations of  it  are  not  «>f  the  most  favorable  nature,  from  \m  not  appearing 
to  take  that  interest  in  the  affair  which  the  injuries  his  countrymen  had 
received  demanded,  as  far  tne  greater  part  <>f  their  time  was  employed 
in  taking  the  depositions  of  Shortland's  witnessss,  most  of  whom  were  the 
principal  actors,  on  that  day,  and  of  course  were  implicated  with  him  in 
his  guilt  On  learning  Mr.  King  was  about  leaving  the  depot,  we  address- 
ed a  note  to  him,  stating,  that  we  had  a  number  of  witnesses  waiting* 
M'hose  depositions  we  conceived  would  be  of  importance,  and  requested 
him  to  have  them  taken  ;  we  received  to  this  note  no  answer,  and  he  im- 
mediately left  the  depot.  The  particular  points  on  which  those  depo- 
sitions would  have  born,  related  to  picking  the  hole  in  the  wall  and  bretik- 
ing  the  locks  of  the  gate  leading  into  the  market  square — they  would  have 
exonerated  the  prisoners  generally  from  having  any  share  in  those  acts, 
or  even  a  knowledge  of  their  havii.g  been  committed.  As  these  were 
the  two  principal  points  on  which  Shortlai  d  rested  his  plea  of  justifica- 
tion,  we  deemed  it  highly  necessary  that  they  should  have  been  piaued  in 
a  proper  point  of  view  As  fur  an  ide^i  of  the  prisoners  attempting  to 
breakout,  a  moment's  refli.ction  would  convince  any  impartial  man  of  its 
improbability.  Every  prisoner  that  had  a  sutficieney  of  motncy  to  defray 
his  expenses,  could  obtain  his  release  and  a  passport,  by  applying  to  Mr. 
Ueasley,  or  through  their  correspondence  m  England ;  those  who  had 
not  funds  would  not  have  left  the  depot  had  the  gates  been  thrown  open, 
having  no  means  of  subsistwnce  in  a  foreign  country,  and  there  biing  a 
very  hot  press  of  seamen  at  tUat  time,  they  knew  their  risk  <>f  being  kid- 
nappttd  was  great,  and  when,  by  staying  a  tew  days  longer,  Uiey  were  as- 
sured thej  would  be  embarked  for  their  native  country.  The  infamous 
falsehoods  circulated  in  the  f'.nglish  prints,  of  the  prisoners  having  arm- 
ed themselvt-s  with  knives,  clubs,  stones,  Sic  st-izcil  a  part  of  the  guard 
and  '.iisnrmcd  them,  and  other  similar  reports,  are  ui.vtonhy  of  notice; 
for  when  the  disturbance  occurred  on  the  fourth  ot  April,  conevrning 
bread,  the  prisoners  having  burst  open  the  inner  gaus,  hudihcy  the  least 
disposition, Uiey  might  have  in  ninl^ttd  tUv  whole  gurriaun,  as  they  were 
completclj  sarpiised  and  pai  ic  struck. 

The  artful  p^liuy  '  f  tiie  Biitiih  officers  in  coupling  (he  transactions  of 
the  6h  ot  April  wnh  ihat  of  burning  Mr.  Beus!e}'s  effigy,  may  easily  be 
seen  through  ;  >he  latter  was  done  a  fortijght  pre  ious,  bj  a  few  individ- 
uals, without  it^  bei.'g  generally  known,  or  the  least  dihlurbance  c«  ;>cern« 
ing  it ;  and  wode.-m  it  but  justice  tu  state,  that  wh»ite\er  negligence  Mr. 
Beaslcy  ni,,\  i.ave  been  guilty  >>t\  respecting  ihe  attairs  oi  the  prisoners, 
he  I'iiOuUI  hi-  U'tallt  exonerated  troiu  utl  lilame  re»p(  ctii.g  lue  mass.icre. 

There  was  an  ins^ia.tce  that  oceunvd  un  ibc  evening  of  the  dh,  \thitfh 
10* 


ft  :■ 


:*'l 


II,  • 


■;* 


IB 

I'll 

■ 


190 


J'OURNAL. 


i-c-flec(.8  90  much  oredit  on  the  Americans,  it  should  not  be  passed  over  iu 
siitinoe.  When  the  brutal  soldiery  wore  following;  the  prisoners  in  tlie 
yards,  stabbing  and  firing  among  them,  a  lamp  lighter,  who  hud  come  in 
a  tew  moments  previous,  ran  into  No.  3  prison,  to  escape  being  murder* 
I'd  by  his  own  countrymen;  on  being  recognized,  a  rope  was  fixed  tor 
hanging  him  immediately.  In  this  moment  of  irritation,  when  their 
slaughtered  and  bleeding  countrynien  lay  groaning  around  theni  in  tite 
agonies  of  dissolution,  such  an  act  of  vengeance,  at  that  time  would  not 
have  been  singular — hut  on  its  being  represented  to  them,  by  some  influ- 
ential characters,  that  such  a  deed  would  ftain  the  American  name,  to 
their  honor  he  it  recorded,  that  humanity  triumphed  over  vengeance,  the 
trembling  wretch  was  released,  and  told  to  go — '*  We  disdain  to  copy  af- 
t«r  your  countrymen,  and  murder  yoa  at  this  advantage,  we  will  seek  a 
wore  noble  revenge  " 

We  deem  it  necessary  here  to  remark,  as  some  editors  have  manifest^ 
ed  a  disposition  to  vindicate  Shorlland's  conduct,  that,  allowing  every  cir> 
I'umstancu  to  be  placed  in  the  most  unfavorable  point  of  view  for  the  pris* 
oners,  su])pose,  for  a  moment,  it  was  their  intention  to  break  out,  -tnd  a 
number  had  collected  in  the  market  square  Tor  that  purpose,  when,  being 
charged  upon  by  the  military,  they  retreated  outof  ihc  square  into  their 
respective  prison-yards,  and  shut  the  gates  after  them  without  making 
any  resistance  whatever;  under  such  circumstances  no  further  opposi* 
tion  could  have  been  expected,  and,  consequently,  their  intention  ntust 
have  been  completely  defeated.  What  justification  can  there  thfen  be 
made  to  appear  fur  the  subsequent  brutal,  unprecedented  hutchery  and 
muti'ation  ?  None!  The  most  shameless  and  barefaced  advocates  and 
apulogiiers  for  British  injustice  cannot  produce  any. 

WALTER  COLrON,->     Membera  of 
THOS    B.  MOTT,       J-  the 

■WM.  IIOBART,  3      Committee. 

DEPOSITION  No.  I. 
T,  .Addiaon  Ilolmest  being  solemnly  sworn  on  the  holy  evangelists  of 
Almigliiy  (Jo'D,  depose  and  say — 

That  on  the  6tn  of  April,  <tbout  6  o'clock  in  the  evening.  I  was  in  the 
market  square,  where  the  suhliers  wt-re  drawn  up.  There  was  a  nura- 
her  of  Americans  iu  the  square— to  the  best  of  my  judgment,  between 
fifty  and  a  hundred.  1  distinctly  heard  Captain  Shortland  order  the  sol- 
<)iers  to  charge  on  the  prisoners,  which  they  did  not  do  till  the  order  wa» 
•4re|.  ?ated  bv  their  own  oiReers,  when  they  charged,  and  tl  e  prisoners  re- 
treated through  the  gales,  which  they  shnt  to  alter  them.  In  this  inter- 
im I  had  got  behind  a  sentry  box,  in  the  square,  »nd  the  soldiers  went 
past  me.  I  saw  Captain  Shurtland  open  the  gates,  and  distireily  heard 
him  give  the  word  to  fire,  which  was  not  immediately  obeyed,  the  com- 
manding officfr  of  the  soldiers  observing,  that  he  would  not  ordtr  the 
men  to  fire,  but  that  he  (Shortland)  might  de  as  be  pleased.  I  then  saw 
Capt.  S!iort>and  seize  hold  of  a  musket,  in  the  hands  of  a  soldier,  which 
was  immetliately  fired— but  1  am  not  able  to  say  whether  he  or  the  sol- 
dier pulled  the  trigger.  At  tfiis  time  I  was  endeavoring  to  get  thruogti 
the  gste  to  (he  prison  yard — in  so  doing  several  stabs  were  made  at  me 
with  bayonets,  which  I  evaded.  Immediately  after  the  firing  became 
general,  and  1  retreated,  with  the  remainder  of  the  prisoners,  down  the 
ynrd,  the  soldiers  following  and  firing  on  the  prisoners;  atter  I  had  got 
iiit  >  No.  3  prison,  I  heartl  two  vollies  fired  into  the  prison,  that  killed  one 
iiiitu  uml  wuuiick'il  unulUct'— and  iurthei'  the  deponent  suith  not 

ADmbO:^  UJLMES; 


•-'•'& 


•if 


JOURNAL. 


191 


We,  the  aiidersigned,  being  duly  appointed  and  sworn  as  a  oommittee 
to  take  the  depositions  of  those  persons  who  were  eye  witnesses  of  the 
late  horrid  massacre,  certify  thnt  the  above  deponents,  being  duly  and 
solemnly  sworn  nn  the  nnly  evangelists  of  Almi;>;hty  God,  did  depose  and 
say  as  before  writlen>  which  was  severally  read  to  each  one  who  aubscrib' 
ed  the  same. 

William  B.  Orne,  Wm.  Nobart, 

Francis  Joseph^  James  Adams, 

Walter  Coctottf  James  Boggs. 

([A  certificate  similar  to  the  foregoing,  is  attached  lu  each  of  the  depe* 
siiiuiis.    The  originals  are  now  iu  out*  hatids.l 


p'' 


ave  manifest* 


No,  II. 
We,  the  undersigned,  being  each  severally  sworn  on  the  holy  evangel- 
ists of  Almiglity  God,  depose  and  say- 
That  on  the  6th  April,  about  six  o'clock  ih  tlie  evening,  as  we  were 
walking  in  the  yard  of  No.  1  and  No.  3  prisons,  just  before  the  usual 
time  of  turning  in,  we  heard  the  alarm  bell  ring  At  this  time  most  of 
the  prisoners  were  in  the  prisons  ;  a  number  with  us  ran  up  the  market 
sijuare,  out  of  curiosity,  to  see  what  was  the  matter ;  there  were  about 
one  hundred  collected  in  the  square,  and  a  nuntber  were  standing  by  the 
gates  inside  the  ])rison  yard  ;  the  soldiers  were  drawn  up  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  square ;  orders  were  given  them  to  charge,  on  which  the 
prisoners  retreated  oiit  of  the  square,  and  some  of  the  last  which  came 
through  the  gates,  shut  them  to  ;  the  soldiers  then  commenced  firing  on 
tiiem  through  the  iron  pailings,  and  fired  several  vollies  in  succession. 
The  prisoners  were,  at  this  time  endeavoring  to  get  into  their  respec* 
live  prisons,  when  the  soldiers  perceived  that  they  were  all  dispersed 
from  the  gates,  they  followed  them  into  the  yard,  and  continued  firing 
on  them  ;  and  after  all  the  prisoners  had  got  into  the  prisons,  a  party  of 
soldiers  pursuing  them,  came  up  to  the  door  of  No.  3  prison,  and  fired 
two  vollies  into  the  prisoD*  which  killed  one  man  and  mortally  wohnded 
another. 

We  further  solemnly  declare,  that  there  was  no  pre-concerted  plan  or 
intention  among  the  prisoners  to  make  an  attempt  to  break  out,  or  to  re» 
sist,  in  any  manner,  the  authority  of  the  government  of  the  depot. 
John  T.  Foster,  Charles  Perry,  Geo.  Stinchecombf 

Klishu  WhitteUf  James  (rrennlaWf       William  Perry, 

Isaac  L.  Burr,  Wm.  B.  Ome,  Richard  Downing, 

Done  at  Dartmoor  Prison,  this  7th  day  of  April,  1815. 

No   III. 

I,  Andrew  Davis,  Jun.  being  solemnly  sworn  upon  the  holy  evangel' 
ibts  oK"  Almighty  God,  depose  and  say— 

I'hat  on  the  6th  nf  April,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  erening,  while  walk- 
ing ib  the  yard  of  No.  3  prison,  1  heard  the  alarm  bell  ring,  and  1  went 
up  towards  the  gate:  I  saw  several  men  bearing  a  wounded  man  towards 
the  gate,  whom  it  appeared  had  been  wounded  by  the  s«ldiers'  bayonets; 
tvhen  the  prisoners  were  retreating  out  of  the  square,  1  heard  r:a()tain 
Shortland  order  a  part  of  them  to  let  go  the  wounded  man,  which  some 
of  them  did ;  one  uf  the  remaining  remonstrated  to  Capt  Shortland,  say* 
ing  that  the  man  was  so  badly  wounded  that  it  required  scver.d  to  biip- 
port  him  ;  on  which  Capt.  Shortland  struck  him  several  blows  with  his 
fists,  and  he  appeart-d  to  me,  from  the  whole  of  his  conduct,  to  be  much 
iiivuxicated  witli  liquor— «ud  further  the  deponent  saiili  not 

AN  DUE  W  DAVIS,  J»n. 


|.„: 


ftl^K, 


)       :| 


lli^l 


:f  •    .1 


H- 


■•Al 


;-.j5t>' 


•#.?"* 


102 


JOURNAr, 


i! 


,>'■-•■  ^No.  IV. 

;  We,  the  undersigned,  Hepose  and  say— 

''"  That  on  the  6th  of  April,  in  the  evening,  we  were  in  the  yard  of  No. 
1  and  No.  3  prisons,  when  we  heard  the  firing  at  the  gates,  and  saw  tlie 
prisoners  all  endeavoring  to  get  into  their  respective  prisons  In  going 
down  towards  the  lower  doors  of  the  prisons,  we  saw  a  party  of  soldiers, 
who  were  posted  on  the  walls,  commence  firing  on  the  prisoners,  and 
we  saw  a  roan  fall,  who  immediataly  died,  and  several  others  were  badly 
wounded  before  they  were  able  to  ^et  into  the  prisons. 


.9mo8  Cheeney, 
Washington  Fox, 
John  Smithf 


Harrit  Keeney, 
James  Coffen, 
Thomas  nilliamt, 
Henry  Casey. 


No.  V. 
Homer  Hull,  after  being  duly  sworn  on  the  holy  evangelists  of  Almigh- 
ty God,  deposeth  and  saith  — 

On  the  6lh  of  April,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  1  was  walking  in 
the  yard  of  No  7  prison  ;  all  being  as  tranquil  among  the  prisoners  as 
usual,  I  observed  an  unusual  number  of  soldiers  mounting  the  walls ; 
and  one  of  them  called  to  one  of  the  prisoners  and  told  him  he  (the  pris- 
oner) had  better  eo  into  the  prison,  as  the  prisoners  would  soon  be 
charged  upon.  While  he  was  asking  the  cause  of  suoh  a  proceeding,  I 
heard  the  alarm  bell  ringing;  I  immediately  run  to  tne  gates  leading  to 
the  square,  when  1  saw  Capt.  Shortland  at  the  head  of  the  armed  soldiery 
marching  down  to  the  gratings,  the  prisoners  at  the  same  time  running 
to  see  what  was  the  matter ;  on  the  soldiers  coming  to  the  gratings,  Capt. 
Shortland  ordered  them  to  char^se,  which  they  did  ;  the  prisoners  im- 
mediately run  to  their  respective  prisons ;  on  passing  through  the  inner 
gate  the^  closed  it  after  them.  Then  I  heard  Captain  Shortland  order 
the  soldiers  to  fire,  which  they  commenced  to  do  in  every  direction  of 
the  yard,  when  the  prisoners  were  making  every  effort  to  reach  their 
prisons.  I  did  not  see  any  violence  used  un  the  part  of  the  prisoners,  nor 
do  1  believe  any  violence  was  intended  or  premediated. 

HOMER  HULL. 
'  I,  Joseph  C,  JUorgan,  having  been  duly  sworn,  and  having  read  the 
foregoing  deposition,  do  declare  the  statement  therein  mentioned  to  be 
true.  J.  C.  MORGAN. 

No.  VL 
We,  the  undersigned,  depose  and  say- 
That  on  the  >ixth  of  April,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  we  were 
in  the  market  square— we  distinctly  heard  Caiit.  Shortland  give  orders  to 
the  soldiers  to  charge  on  the  prisoners — and  after  we  retreated  through 
the  gates,  we  heard  him  give  orders  to  ihe  soldiers  to  fire,  which,  on 
his  repeating  several  times  was  executed. 

Joseph  Reeves,  Isaac  L.  Burr, 

James  GreeiUaWf  Thomas  Tindal. 

*'  No.  VII, 
We,  the  undersigned,  depose  and  say- 
That,  on  the  6lli  of  April,  in  the  evening,  after  all  the  prisoners  in  No. 
1  and  3  yards  had  got  into  their  respective  prisons,  a  party  of  soldiers 
eame  up  to  the  do«.r  of  No.  3  prison— we  were  standing  nenr  ih*  door  at 
the  time,  and  saw  them  fire  two  voli.ies  into  the  prison,  which  kill- 
ed one  man  and  wounded  another. 

Wiliam  Scanch,  John  Lalham, 

James  GreenUnv,  John  Glass. 


JOURNAL. 


1U3 


No    VIII. 

£n»ch  Burnham,  having  been  duly  sworn,  deposeth-*  ^ 

That  he  whs  sUtiiling  at  the  market-g^te  at  the  time  Capt.  Shortland 
came  into  the  niurket  square  with  a  large  party  of  soldiers  (it  being  then 
about  six  o'clock.)  The^  immediately  formed  a  lint  in  the  square-—- at 
titat  lime  a  number  of  prisoners  got  into  the  square  fn)m  the  yard  of  No. 
1  prison,  an  I  had  advanced  a  few  steps  ;  the  soldiers  then  charged,  and 
the  prisoners  immediately  retreated  to  their  prisons-  without  the  leust 
resistance.  After  the  prisoners  had  retired  to  the  yards  of  the  prison, 
the  soldiery  formed  a  line  and  commenced  firing  in  the  yards,  tlie  pris- 
on gates  being  closed  by  the  prisoners  ;  shortly  after  tliey  Jiept  up  a  hea- 
vy fire,  and  I  saw  one  man  fall.  I  immediately  hastened  to 'No.  5  prison, 
but  on  reaching  No.  7,  I  found  there  was  a  party  of  soldiers  on  the  wall, 
firing  from  every  direction.  I  then  got  safe  in  No.  7,  where,  after  re- 
maining at  the  noith  end  window  a  few  moments,  I  saio  a  man  r  a  pris- 
oner J  leaning  against  the  -wall,  apparently  tooundedt  -with  his  hands  in 
a  ait,')plicatinff  posture — at  the  same  time,  J  saw  seveYul  soldiers  present 
aadjire  at  the  pnsoner  and  he  immediately  tell  dead  on  the  spot, 

ENOCH  BUUNllAM. 
No.  IX. 

Edivard  Coffin,  being  duly  sworn,  deposed,  that  on  the  sixth  of  April, 
about  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  few  prisoners  belonging  to  No.  5  and 
7  prisons,  broke  a  hole  through  the  wall  opposite  No.  7  prison,  as  they 
SHiil  to  get  a  ball  out  of  the  barrack  yard,  which  they  had  >j8t  in  their 
])iay.  After  they  had  broke  through  the  wall,  the  onicerd  and  aoldiers 
that  were  in  the  barrck  yard,  told  them  to  desist  or  they  would  fire  upon 
them.  Immediately  after  that  the  drum  beat  to  amis,  and  the  square 
was  filled  with  soldiers,  and  without  telling  the  piisoners  to  go  to  their 
prison,  immediately  commenced  to  charge  and  fire  upon  them.  I  im. 
mediately  started  to  go  to  No.  5  prison,  and  the  soldiers  on  the  platforms 
on  the  walls  commenced  firing,  and  I  should  think  near  forty  fired  at 
myself  and  three  others,  as  i  am  sure  there  were  no  other  men  in  sight 
at  that  time  between  No's  5  and  6  prisons.  In  going  round  No.  5  cook- 
house a  prisoner  was  sl.ot  and  killed,  very  near  me. 

Jitteat,  Henry  Allbn.  EDWARD  COFFIN. 

No    X. 

Thomas  B.  JHott,  having  been  duly  sworn,  deposed— 
About  six  o'-clock  in  the  evening  of  the  6tli  of  April,  1  was  called  on  by 
a  number  of  persons,  requesting  me  as  one  of  the  committee  to  put  a  stop 
to  some  boys  whom  they  said  were  picking  a  hole  through  an  inner  wall, 
for  which,  they  said,  our  provisions  would  be  stopped  to  pay  for  1  ask- 
ed what  was  their  intentions  in  making  the  hole }  they  said  it  was  for  the 
puriiose  of  obtaining  a  ball  which  they  had  lust  in  their  play.  I  then  re- 
paired with  a  number  of  respectable  men  to  make  them  desist ,  but  be- 
fore we  got  into  the  yard  a  quick  firing  commenced  On  my  valking 
up  the  yard  was  met  by  a  number  of  prisoners  retreating  to  their  prisons, 
much  alarmed  ;  one  of  which  I  observed  was  badly  wounded,  he  was 
bleeding  freely  from  his  wound;  I  could  see  the  yard  was  clear  of  pris- 
oners, or  not  more  than  two  or  three  to  be  seen,  and  tliey  retiring  fast. 
I  requested  the  wounded  man  to  lean  upon  me,  and  I  would  assist  him 
in  some  medical  aid.  We  had  not  advanced  but  a  few  steps  when  we 
were  fired  on  I  advanced,  assuring  the  soldiery  we  had  no  hostile  in- 
tentions. I  then  took  the  fainting  man  in  my  arms,  when  a  volley  of  mus- 
ketry was  discharged  full  at  us.  I  then  retired  imiued-ately  ;  there  was 
but  one  of  my  prison  doors  unlocked,  which  was  on  the  back  of  the  pris- 
•tu    Uu  turatng  the  corner  of  the  cook-house,  i  found  myself  uuexpecl- 


If 


At-    l\ 


s  •  :p 


i94i 


JOVRKAL. 


cdly  o|ien  to  the  iiire  of  toldien  on  the  ramparts  of  the  south  wall ;  their 
fire  was  kept  up  in  so  brisk  a  manner  that  it  appeared  almost  impossible 
to  enter  without  being  shot ;  but  finding  my  situation  very  <langcrou8,  I 
was  determined  to  enter  the  prison  or  die  in  the  attempt.  Fur  that  pur* 
pose  myself,  with  a  number  mothers  that  had  been  standing  behind  the 
wing  of  the  cook  house,  sallied  out  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  our  prison 
dour,  when  a  voliet  of  musket  balls  showered  in  amongst  us,  killing  two 
and  wounding  others.  On  our  entering  the  prison  our  doors  were  shut 
to  keep  them  from  firing  in.  Some  little  time  after  the  turnkey  inquir- 
ed foe  me;  1  went  forward  to  the  windww;  he  requested  me  to  deliver 
up  the  dead  and  wounded  ;  I  requested  him  to  upen  the  door,  which  he 
did,  for  that  purpose.  On  passing  out  the  dead  and  wounded,  I  was  in- 
sulted by  the  soldiery,  and  on  my  replying  was  ciiaiged  upon,  and  wi'.h 
difficulty  escaped  wiihout  being  butchered:  they  li^-ewise  insulted  the 
wounded  s^st  1  gave  them  up,  and  threw  the  dead  down  in  the  mud,  and 
spurned  at  them  in  a  very  unfeeling  manner.        TUO'S  U.  MO  TT. 

No.  XI. 

I,  William  Mitchell,  being  duly  sworn  upon  the  holy  evangelists  of 
Almi;;hty  Goo, depose  and  say — 

That,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  April,  when  the  alarm  commenced, 
I  was  in  ii;e  lower  part  of  No.  1  yard.  1  walked  up  towards  the  gate  to 
learn  the  cause,  when  I  had  got  about  halfway,  I  heard  a  single  musket 
fired,  an4l  immediately  after  a  whole  volley.  1  then  saw  several  men 
carrying  one  that  was  wounded,  the  soldiers  keeping  up  the  whole  time 
a  steady  fire,  and  the  prisoners  all  endeavoring  to  get  into  the  prisons; 
the  lower  doors  being  closed  in  the  interim  ,  it  was  with  much  difficulty 
they  could  g>  t  in,  the  soldiers  pursuing  them  the  whole  time  and  charg- 
ing them  with  ba}onet8;  nud  after  getting  into  the  prison,  I  heard  the 
firing  of  musketry  in  all  directions  round  the  prison — and  further  the  de- 
ponent saith  not.  WILLIAM  MITCHELL. 

No  XIL 
I,  John  G.  Gatchell,  having  been  duly  sworn,  depose  and  say- 
That  I  was  walking  in  the  yard  towards  the  gate.  The  first  I  knew, 
was  the  soldiers  coming  into  the  yard,  with  Captain  Shortland  at  their 
hebd,  when  an  immediate  fire  began  from  the  soldiers,  and  one  man  fell 
within  six  feet  of  me.  While  in  the  act  of  rendering  this  man  assistance, 
I  heard  Captain  Shortland  order  the  soldiers  to  kill  the  damn'd  rascal-- 
meaning  me  ;  immediately  the  soldiers  came  and  pricked  me  with  their 
bayonets,  and  I  was  forced  to  run  to  the  prison  at  the  hazard  of  my  life, 
and  leave  the  wan  that  was  wounded.  JOHN  G.  GATCHELL. 


i     I! 


No.  XIII. 

James  Taylor,  having  been  duly  sworn,  deposetb,  that  he  was  standing 
at  the  gate  in  the  market  square,  at  the  time  ('aptain  Shortland,  with  a 
file  of  soldiers,  entered  the  square.  Captain  Shortland  ordered  a  pris« 
oner  in  the  square  to  go  into  the  prison,  when  he  immediately  complied. 
He  then  ordered  the  soldiers  to  charge ;  and  instantly  observed  to  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  military — <*  It  is  no  use  to  charge  on  the 
damn'd  Yankee  rascals— FIRE*' — when  this  commenced  immediately. 
The  prisoners  at  that  time  were  rushing  in  the  prisons  as  fast  as  possible 
and  principally  out  of  the  square.  After  the  prisoners  were  mostly  in  the 
prison  of  No." 4,  a  boy,  of  ten  years  of  nge,  was  shot  through  the  body 
and  killed,  while  in  the  door  passage  trying  to  get  in,  by  the  soldiers  in 
the  yard,  in  my  presence,  I  being  mside  the  prison ;  likewise  one  other 


man  was  shot  through  the  thigh. 


JAMES  TAYLOR. 


.1.6- 


JOURNAL. 


195 


No.  XIV. 

Ssmttel  Loxiidy  having  been  duly  sworn,  depoieth  as  follows  : 

That  he  was  in  the  yard  uf  prison  No.  4,  at  the  time  Robert  Haywood 
was  shot  by  the  soldiery.  He  immediately  took  him  up,  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  him  to  the  hospital.  In  the  square  he  met  Capt.  Shortland, 
and  said,  Capt.  Shortland,  this  man  is  very  badly  wounded — I  want  to 
carry  him  to  the  hospital.  Capt.  Shortland  replied,  you  damn'd  sou  of  a 
bitch,  carry  him  back  to  the  prison  ;  and  he  was  obliged  to  comply  Af- 
ter getting  to  the  prison,  one  of  the  soldiers  called  him  back,  ana  he  went 
up  to  the  square  with  the  man,  and  met  Capt.  Shortland,  who  said,  heave 
him  down  there,  (pointing  to  a  sentry  box)  and  away  with  you  to  the  pris- 
on ,  at  that  time  they  were  iiiing  in  the  different  yards.  On  leaving  the 
square,  we  found  the  man  was  dead.  SAMUEL  LOWDY. 

John  Battice  having  been  sworn,  corroborates  the  evidence  of  Samuel 
Lowdy.  JOHN  BATTICE. 

No,  XV. 

William  Potter,  having  been  duly  sworn,  deposed — 

That  while  pafling  between  No.  5  and  6  prifons,  the  fold iers commenced 
Hring  from  the  walls  in  three  divifions,  at  a  few  of  us;  at  that  time  there 
were  only  four  prifoners  in  fight.  After  advancing  a  few  fteps,  I  found 
a  man  badly  wounded.  I  flopped  and  picked  the  man  up  ;  during  which 
time  the  foldiers  kept  an  incefTant  fire  at  us,  as  likewifetill  we  got  to  the 
prifon  of  No  5.  WILLIAM  PO ITER. 

No.  XVI. 

I,  David  S.  Warren,  being  duly  fwo'n  on  the  holy  evangelifb  of  Al- 
mighty God,  depofe  and  fay — 

That,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  April,  when  the  alarm  commenced,  I 
was  in  the  lower  part  of  the  yard  No.  1  prifon.  1  walked  up  to  the  gate 
to  learn  the  caufe.  I  there  faw  there  were  a  number  of  prifoners  in  the 
market  fquare,  and  a  great  number  of  foldiers  drawn  up  acrofs  the  fame; 
foon  after  they  charged  on  the  prifoners,  who  retreated  out  of  the  fquare 
into  theii  )'erpective  prifon  yards,  and  fhut  the  gates  after  them.  I  (aw 
the  foldiers  advance  up  to  the  gates,  and  heard  Capt.  Shortland  order  them 
to  fire,  which  they  nor  immediately  obeying.  I  faw  him  feize  hold  of  a 
mufket  in  the  hands  of  a  foldier,  and  dire6l  it  towards  a  prifoner,  and 
heard  him  again  repeat,  **fre — God  damn  yvu.Jtre!"  Immediately  after- 
wards the  firing  became  general  ;  theprifoneis  were  all  endeavoring  to  get 
into  the  prifons,  which  was  attended  with  much  difficulty,  all  the  doors 
but  one  being  clofed — and  further  the  deponent  faith  not. 

DAVID  S.  WARREN. 
No.  XVII. 

We,  the  underligned,  being  each  feverally  fworn  on  the  holy  evangelifls 
of  Almighty  God,  for  the  inveiligation  of  the  circumftances  attending  the 
late  horrid  maffacre,  and  having  heard  the  depofitions  of  a  great  nu.nber 
of  witnefTes,  from  our  own  perU>naI  knowledge,  and  from  the  depofitionc 
given  in  as  aforelaid,       ■>■ 

REPORT  J18  FOLLOWS : 

Jhat  on  the  6th  of  April,  about  fix  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  the 
prifoners  were  all  quiet  in  their  refpe£live  yards,  it  being  about  the  ufual 
time  of  turning  in  for  night,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  prifoners  being 
then  in  the  prifons,  the  alarm  bell  was  rung,  and  many  of  the  prifoners 
ran  up  to  the  market  fquare  to  learn  the  occafion  of  the  alarm.  There  were 
then  drawn  up  in  the  fquare  feveral  hundred  foldiers,  with  Capt.  Short- 
land  (the  agertt)  at  tbeir  head  ;  it  was  likewife  obferved  at  the  fame  time, 


i!   ! 


ill::' 

\  ■ 


I 


t 

If 


11 


■(''-.; 


116 


JOURNAL. 


k.. 


thit  additional  numbfrt  of  foldiera  were  pofting  themfelvei  on  the  walls 
round  the  prifon  yards.  One  of  them  obferved  to  the  prifuneri,  that  they 
had  better  go  into  the  prifons,  for  they  would  be  charged  upon  directly. 
Thia,  of  courfe,  occafioned  confiderable  alarm  among  them.  In  thia  mo- 
ment of  uncertainty,  they  were  running  in  different  <!ireAiona,  enquiring 
the  caufe  of  the  alarm  ;  fome  toward  their  refpeAive  prifons,  and  fome  to- 
ward the  market  fquare.  When  about  one  hundred  were  colleAed  in  the 
fquare,  Capt  Shortund  ordered  the  foldiers  to  charge  npon  them,  which 
order  the  ibldiers  were  reliiflant  in  obeying,  as  the  prifoners  were  uAng 
no  violence  ;  but  on  the  order  being  repeated,  they  made  a  charge,  and  the 
prifoners  retreated  out  of  the  fquare  into  their  prifon  yards,  and  (hut  the 
gate  after  them.  Capt  Shortland,  himfelf,  opened  the  gates,  and  ordered 
the  loldiers  to  fire  in  among  the  prifoners,  who  were  all  retreating  in  dif- 
ferent diri£lioiis  towards  their  refpc'^tive  prifons.  It  appears  there  was 
fome  hefilalioa  in  the  minds  nf  the  officers,  whether  or  not  it  was  proper 
to  fire  upon  the  prifoners  in  that  fituation  ;  on  which  Shortland  feized  a 
mufket  out  of  the  hands  of  a  foldier,  which  he  fiied.  Immediately  after 
the  fire  became  general,  and  many  of  the  prifoners  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  The  remainder  were  endeavoring  to  get  into  the  prifons,  when 
going  towards  the  lower  doors,  the  fuldiers  on  the  walls  commenced  firing 
on  them  fmm  that  quarter,  which  killed  fome  and  wounded  others.  Af- 
ter much  difficulty,  (all  the  duors  being  clofed  in  the  entrance,  but  one  in 
each  prifon)  tht  furvivors  fticcerded  in  gaining  the  prifons;  immediately 
after  which,  parties  of  foldiers  came  to  the  iloors  of  Nos.  8  and  4  prifuns» 
and  fired  feveral  vollies  into  them  through  the  windows  and  doors,  which 
killed  one  man  in  each  prifon,  and  feverely  wounded  others. 

I'  likewife  appears,  that  the  preceding  butchery  was  followed  up  with 
a  difpofition  of  peculiar  inveteracy  and  barbarity. 

One  man  who  was  feverely  wounded  in  No.  7  prifon  yard,  and  being 
unable  to  make  his  way  to  the  prifon,  was  come  up  with  by  the  foldiers* 
whom  he  implored  for  mercy,  but  in  vain ;  five  of  the  hardened  wretches 
immediately  levelled  their  pieces  at  him,  and  fhot  him  dead  on  the  fpot. 
The  foldiers  who  were  on  the  walls,  maniftfted  equal  cruelty,  by  keeping 
Op  <(  coiiftant  fire  on  every  pnfoner  they  could  fee  in  the  yards  endeavoring 
to  get  into  the  prifons,  when  their  numbers  were  very  few,  and  when  not 
the  lead  (hadow  of  refiftance  conld  be  made  or  expefted.  Several  of  them 
had  got  into  No  6  prifon  cook  houfe,  which  was  pointed  out  by  the  fol- 
diers on  the  walls,  to  thofe  who  were  marching  in  from  the  fquare.  They 
immediately  went  up  and  fired  into  the  fame,  which  wounded  feveral. — 
One  of  the  prifoners  ran  out,  with  the  intention  of  gaining  his  prifon,  but 
was  killed  before  he  reached  the  door. 

On  an  impartial  confideration,  of  all  circiimftances  of  the  cafe,  we  are 
induced  to  believe  that  it  was  a  premeditateu  frheme  in  the  mind  of  Capt. 
Shortland,  forreafons  which  we  will  now  proceed  to  give.  As  an  illuci- 
dation  of  its  origin,  we  will  recur  back  to  an  event  which  happened  fome 
days  previous  Captain  Shortland  was  at  the  time,  ahfent  at  Plymouth; 
but  before  going, he  ordered  the  contraftor,  or  his ilerk,  to  ferve  out  one 
pound  of  indifferent,  hard  bread,  inftead  of  one  pound  and  an  half  of  fsft 
bread,  their  ufual  allowance.  This  the  prifoners  refufed  to  receive  They 
waited  all  day  in  expe£lation  of  their  ufual  allowance  being  ferved  out  ; 
but  at  funset,  finding  this  would  not  be  the  cafe,  burft  open  the  lower 
gates,  and  went  up  to  the  flore,  demanding  to  have  their  bread 

The  officers  of  nie  garrifon,  on  being  alarnted,  and  informed  of  ihefe 
proceedings,  obferved  that  it  was  no  more  than  right  the  prifoacry  (hould 


JOURNAL.. 


iW 


tisve  their  bfual  aitowancf,  and  ftrongly  reprobated  captain  Shortland,  in 
withholding  it  from  them.  They  were  accordingly  ferved  with  thrir 
bread,  and  quietly  returned  to  their  prifon.  This  circuntftance,  \«ith  the 
confures  that  were  throivn  on  hi«condu£l,  reached  the  ears  of  Shortland, 
on  his  return  home,  and  he  mud  then  have  determined  on  the  diabolical 
plan  of  fcizing  the  firft  flight  pretext  to  turn  in  the  military,  to  butchef 
the  prifoners  for  the  gratification  of  his  Malice  and  revenge.  It  unfortu- 
nately happened,  that  in  the  afternoon  of  the  fixth  of  April,  fome  boys 
who  were  playing  ball  in  No.  7  yard,  knocked  their  ball  over  into  tne 
barrack  yard,  and  on  the  fentry  in  that  yard  refusing  to  throw  it  back  to 
them,  they  picked  a  hole  in  the  wall,  to  get  in  after  it. 

This  afforded  Shortland  his  wiflied  for  pretext,  and  he  took  his  meaf- 
u res  accordingly.  He  had  all  the  garrifon  arawn  up  in  the  military  walk, 
additional  numbers  pofted  on  the  walls,  and  every  thing  prepared,  btf$ft 
the  alarm-bell  was  rung  :  ih'n  ht  tikiunWy  concluded  would  draw  the  at- 
tention of  a  great  number  of  prifoners  towards  the  gates,  to  learn  the  caufe 
of  the  alarm,  while  the  turnkeys  were  difpatched  into  the  yards  to  lock 
all  the  doors  but  one,  of  each  prifon,  to  prevent  the  prifoners  retreating  out 
of  the  way,  before  he  had  fufRciently  wreaked  his  vengeance. 

What  adds  peculiar  weight  to  the  belief  of  its  being  a  premeditated,  de- 
termined malTacre,  are, 

Firjl — The  fanguinary  difpofltion  manifefted  on  every  occafion  by 
Shortland,  he  having  prior  to  this  time,  ordered  the  (oldiera  to  fire  into 
the  prifons,  through  the  prifon  windows,  upon  unarmed  prifoners  afleep 
in  their  hammocks,  on  accountof  a  light  being  feen  in  the  pritons  ;  which 
barbarous  act  was  repeated  feveral  nights  fuccefTively.  That  murder  was 
not  then  committed,  was  owing  to  an  overruling  Provideiice  alone  ;  for 
the  balls  were  picked  up  in  the  prifons,  where  they  pafTed  through  the 
hammocks  of  men  then  afleep  in  them.  He  having  alfo  ordered  the  fol- 
diers  to  fire  upon  the  prifoners  in  the  yard  of  No.  7  prifon,  brcaufe  they 
would  not  deliver  up  to  him  a  man  who  had  efcaped  from  his  cachot,  which 
order  the  commandmg  officer  of  the  foldiers  refufed  to  obey ;  and  general- 
ly, he  having  feized  on  every  flight  pretext  to  injure  the  prifoners,  by 
flopping  their  marketing  foi  ten  days  repeatedly,  and  once,  a  third  part  of 
their  provifions  for  the  fame  length  of  time. 

Secondly — He  having  been  heard  to  fay,  when  the  boys  had  picked  the  hole 
in  the  wall,  and  fometime  before  the  alarm  bell  was  rung,  while  all  the 
prifoners  were  quiet  asufual  in  their  refpc£live  yards — *'  I'UJix  the  damrCd 
rafcals  directly.' 

Thirdly — His  having  all  the  foldirrs  on  their  polls,  and  the  garrifon  fully 
preparea  before  the  alarm  bell  rung  It  could  not  then,  of  courfe,  be 
rung  to  afTemble  the  foldiers,  but  to  alarm  the  prifoners,  and  create  confu- 
fion  among  them. 

Fourthly — The  foldiers  upon  the  wall,  previous  to  the  alartm  bell  being 
rung;  informing  the  prifoners  that  they  would  be  charged  upon  dire£lly. 

Fifthly — The  turnkeys  going  into  the  yard  and  clofing  all  the  doors  but 
one,  in  each  prifon,  while  the  attention  of  the  prifoners  was  attracted  by 
the  alarm  bell.  This  was  done  about  fifteen  minutes  fooner  than  ufual, 
and  without  informing  the  prifoners  it  was  time  to  fhut  up.  It  was  ever 
the  invariable  praftice  of  the  turnkeys,  from  which  they  never  deviated  be« 
fore  that  night,  when  coming  into  the  yard  to  (hut  up,  to  halloo  to  the 
prifoners,  fo  loud  as  to  be  heard  throughout  the  yard,  '*  turn  iri,  turn  in  !** 
while  on  that  night  it  was  done  fo  fecretly,  that  not  one  man  in  a  hundred 
knew,  they  were  fliut;  md  in  particulafi  their  {hutting  the  door  of  No« 
17 


I' ; 


i^l.' 


'4  ■ ! 


iOS 


JOURNAL. 


7,  prifoners  ufually  go  in  and  out  at,  and  which  was  formerly  always 
clofed  laft,  and  Iraviiig  one  open  in  the  other  end  of  the  prifon,  which  was 
expofed  to  a  crofs  fire  from  the  Toldiersonthe  walls,  and  which  the  prifon* 
ers  had  to  paO  in  gaining  the  prifons. 

It  appears  Co  us  that  the  foregoing  reafons  fulHciently  warrant  the  con* 
clufion  we  have  drawn  therefrom. 

We  likewife  believe,  from  the  depofitions  of  men  who  were  eye  wit- 
nefTes  of  a  part  of  Shortland's  conduct,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  April, 
chat  he  was  in  oxicated  with  liquor  at  the  time  ;  from  his  brutality  in  beat- 
ing a  prifoner  then  fupporting  another  feverely  wounded,  from  the  black- 
guard and  abufive  language  he  madeufenf,  and  from  his  frequently  having 
been  feen  in  the  fame  flate.  His  being  drunk  was,  of  courfe,  the  means  of 
inflaming  his  bitter  enmity  againft  the  prifoners,  and  no  doubt  was  the 
caufe  -^f  the  indifcriminate  butchery,  and  of  no  quarter  being  given. 

We  here  folemnly  aver,  that  there  was  no  pre-concerted  plan  to  attempt 
a  breaking  out.  There  cannot  be  produced  the  leaft  (hadow  of  a  reafon  or 
inducement  for  that  intention,  btcaufe  the  prifoners  were  daily  expefting 
to  be  releafed,  and  to  embark  on  boavd  cartels  for  their  native  country. 
And  we  likewife  folemnly  aflert,  that  there  wasno  intention  of  refifting,  in 
in  any  manner,  the  authority  of  this  depot. 

N  B.  Seven  were  killed,  thirty  dangeroufly  wonnded,  and  thirty  flight- 
ly  do.     Total,  fixty-fcven  killed  and  wounded. 

rWm.  B.  Ome,  Wm.  Hobart, 

d     James  Boggs;  James  Adamsy 

^<J.  F.Throtvbridge,  Francis  Joseph,      \>Ccmmittee. 

S  I  John  Rust^  Henry  Allen, 

^  IWaUer  Cotton,  Thomas  B.  Mott,  J 


I 


No.  XVIII. 

Letter  from  Mr,  Beajly,  agent  for  American  prifoners  of  war  at  London^  to  the 

Committee  of  American  prifoners  of  tuar  in  Dartmoor  prifon. 

Agency  'or  American  prifoners  of  war, 
London,  April  12,  1815. 

GtNTLEMBN— It  having  been  ftated  infomeof  the  newfpapers  publifli- 
ed  here,  that  the  American  government  intended  to  fend  fome  (hips  of  war 
bound  to  the  Mcditerrar>ean,  to  this  country,  for  the  purpofe  of  complet- 
ing their  crews  from  among  the  prifoners;  and  having  been  informi  d  that 
this  idea  has  got  among  the  prifoners,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  requcft,  that 
you  will  inform  them  that  the  fad  is  not  fo 

I  have  already  informed  you  of  the  meafures  which  had  been  taken  to 
provide  conveyances  for  the  prifoners.  You  will  let  them  know,  that 
eight  large  tranfports  have  been  engaged,  fome  of  which  mull  be  now  at 
Plymouth  ;  others  will  follow,  until  the  whole  of  the  prifoners  are  fent  oflF. 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented,  that  at  a  moment  when  every  exertion  was 
making  to  reftore  them  to  their  country,  thtyfKould  have  fallen  into  an  excefs 
ttihich  has  proved  fatal  to  fome.  And  I  am  at  a  lofs  to  conceive  how  they 
could,  under  fuch  circumftances,  pictend  to  fay,  that  the  caufe  of  this  un- 
fortunate but  (hameful  condu£l,  was  the  neg1e£l  of  their  government  or  its 
agent.  This,  I  am  informed,  they  have  ftated  to  the  officers  who  were 
fent  to  examine  into  the  affair.     I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  fcrvant, 

R.  G.  BEASLEY. 

The  Committee  of  the  American  prifoners^  Dartmoor* 


JOURNAL^ 


iM 


rrant  the  con< 


No.  XIX. 

Dartmoor,  April  14, 1815, 

Sir — Yours, of  t^e  tath  inst.  came  to  hand  this  morning.  It  iswithas*- 
toni(hment  we  note  its  contents,  that  the  officers  who  came  to  mquire  into 
the  circum(\ances  of  the  late  unfortunate  affair,  fhould  have  informed  you» 
that  the  prifoners  ftated  to  them,  the  caufe  of  that  event  was  that  their  gov- 
ernment or  its  agent  had  ne^lefted  them.  This  is  a  moft  deliiberate  falfc- 
hood,  let  your  authors  be  who  thev  may  We  deny  not,  that  the  anxiety 
pf  the  prifoners  to  get  releafed  from  here  has  been  great;  they  have  evencen- 
fiired  you  as  being  dilatory  in  your  preparations  for  that  purpofe— but 
their  government  they  have  never  implicated — and  you  may  reft  alfured, 
that  they  have  too  much  of  the  genuine  fpirit  of  Americans,  to  apply  to  tho 
officers  of  a  foreign  government  for  relief,  or  to  make  thexn  a  party  in  any 
difpute  with  the  government  or  its  agents. 

We  folemnly  aiTure  you,  that  whatever  anxiety  among  the  prifoners,  or 
want  of  confidence  in  your  exertions,  as  above  ftated,  may  have  exifted 
among  them,  that  it  can  in  no  way  be  conftrued  to  have  any  collufidn  or 
conne£lion  with  the  late  event,  and  was  exprefily  fo  ftated  to  the  admiraU 
who  came  here  from  Plymouth. 

We.  on  the  contrary,  in  the  name  of  the  five  thoufand  prifoners  confined 
here,  accufe  Shortlan^  of  a  deliberate,  pre-determined  aft  of  atrocious  mar- 
der—- we  have  fufficient  evidence  in  our  poflfeflion  to  prove  it  to  the  world, 
and  wecnll  on  you  (there  being  at  prefent  no  accredited  minifler  or  charge 
des  affaires  at  the  court  of  London)  to  make  ftrift  inquiries  into  the  cir« 
cumftances  of  the  cafe,  and  procure  ail  the  evidence  necefTary  for  a  proper 
invelUg3tion  into  the  fame;  for  well  do  we  feel  aiTured,  that  our  govern- 
ment will  not  thus  fuffer  its  citizens  to  he  facrificed,  for  the  gratification  of 
national  prejudice,  malice  or  revenge  of  the  petty  officers  of  a  foreign  ftate. 

We  are  at  no  lofs  to  impute  the  mifrepiefentation  of  the  Britifh  officers 
to  their  proper  motives.  They  artfully  wifh  to  excite  in  your  breaft,  a 
fpirit  of  enmity  and  refentment  againil  the  prifoners,  that  you  might  ule 
It's  perfeverance,  or  feel  yourfelf  left  interefted  in  making  the  proper  inr 
qiiiries  into  the  late  affair. 

With  much  refpcft  we  remain,  fir,  your  moft  obedienf  and  humbft 
fervants, 

WILLIAM  HOBART, 
WALTPR  COLTON, 
HENRY  ALLEN. 

R.  G.  Beajey,  E/g.  Agent  for  Prifoners,  London. 

No.  XX. 

ad  Letter  from  M^.  Beafley  to  theAmeriun  Committee^ 

Agency  for  American  Prifoners  of  War, 
London,  April  14,  1815. 
Gentlemen — My  letter  to  you  of  the  12th  inft.  on  the  fubjeftofthe 
melancholy  event,  was  written  under  an  impreffion  which  !  received  from 
a  report  of  it,  tranfmitted  to  me  by  this  government ;  I  have  fince  received 
your  report  nf  the  circumftances.  Had  I  been  in  polfefTion  of  the  infor- 
mation therein  contained,  the  letter  would  have  been  differently  expreiTed. 
1  am.  gentleman,  your  obedient  fervant,  R.  G.  BEASLEY. 

Committee  of  American  Prifoners,  Dartmoor^ 

P.  S.  I  fuhjoi-.i  an  extract  of  the  report  alluded  to  from  the  Lords  Con- 
mifldoRers  of  the  Admiralty : 


i;i:':i! 


m 


1.1  '.}■. 


'ill 


it-'  '  'tl 


■yi  :.^^ 


,,.,:    :,, 


^00 


JOURNAL. 


««  The  rioters,  it  appears,  endeavored  to  overpower  the  guard,  to  force 
the  prifon,  and  had  actually  feized  the  arms  of  fome  of  the  foldiers,  and 
made  a  breach  in  the  wails  of  the  depot,  when  the  guard  found  itfelf  obli- 
ged to  have  recourfe  to  their  (ire  arms,  and  five  of  the  rioters  were  killed, 
and  thirty-four  wounded,  after  which  the  tumult  fubfided,  and  the  depot 
was  placed  in  a  ftate  of  tranquility  and  fecurity. 

*'  Admiral^ir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  Commander  in  Chief  at  Plymouth, 
having  received  information  of  this  unfortunate  event,  loft  no  time  indi- 
Te£ling  Rear  Admiral  Sir  Jolias  Rowley,  Baronet,  K.  C.  B.  and  Schorn- 
berg,  the  two  fenior  officers  at  that  port,  to  proceed  to  Dartmoor,  and  to 
enquire  into  the  circumftances.  Thofe  ofHcers  accordingly  repaired  to  the 
depot,  wherethey  found,  on  examination  of  the  officers  of  the  depot,  and 
all  the  American  prifoners  who  were  called  before  them,  that  the  circumftances 
of  the  riot  were  as  before  ftated  ;  but  that  no  excufe  could  be  affigned  for 
thecondufl  of  the  prifoners,  but  their  impatience  to  be  releafed  ;  and  the 
Americans  unanimoufly  declared,  that  their  complaint  of  delay  was  not 
againft  the  Britilh  government,  but  againft  their  own,  which  ought  to  have 
fent  means  for  theii  early  conveyance  home,  and  in  replies  to  diftinct  quef- 
tions  to  that  efFe£l,  they  declared  they  had  no  ground  of  complaint  what- 
Ibever." 

No.  XXI. 

OARTMOOR,    APRIL     I7,    1815. 

To  Rear  Admiral  Sir  J,  T.  Duckworth, 

Sir— The  officers  whom  you  fent  to  this  place  to  inquire  into  th« 
circumftance  of  the  unfortunate  occurrence  of  the  6th  inft.  whatever  right 
Ihey  had  to  reprefent  the  condu£k  of  Capt  Shortland  in  the  moft  favorable 
manner,  we  conceive  It  an  aft  of  grofs  injuftice  that  they  fliould  have  giv- 
en to  you  fuch  a  falfe  and  fcandalous  reprefentation  of  what  they  were 
told  by  the  prifoners. 

In  the  report  from  the  admiralty  board  to  Mr.  Beafley,  (a  copy  of  which 
he  has  tranfmitted  to  us]  it  is  ftated  that  the  prifoners,  when  called  upon  to 
give  an  account  of  the  circumftances  o^lhe  6th,  exonerated  Capt  Shortland 
and  the  Englifh  government  from  any  blame  refpefting  the  fame,  and  ac- 
cufed  their  own  government  and  its  agent  of  being  the  caufe. 

We,  on  the  contrary,  folemnly  declare  that  it  was  eKprefsly  ftated  to  Ad- 
miral Rowley,  that  whatever  anxiety  might  have  exifted  among  the  pri*"- 
oners  for  a  fpeedy  releafe,  could,  in  no  way  whatever,  be  conftrued  to  have 
had  any  collufion  or  connexion  with  that  event.  That  the  prifoners,  fo 
far  from  having  any  idea  of  attempting  to  break  out,  if  the  gates  had  been 
opened,  and  every  one  fuffcred  to  go  who  might  wifh  to  do  fo,  not  one 
in  a  hundred  would  have  left  theprifon,  having  no  means  of  fubfiftence  in 
a  foreign  country,  and  being  likewife  liable  to  impressment,  when  by 
ftaying  a  few  days  longer,  they  would,  probably,  be  embarked  for  their 
native  country. 

They,  on  the  cotitrary,  accufed  Capt  Shortland  of  being  the  fole  mover 
and  principal  perpetrator  of  the  unprovoked  and  horrid  butchery. 

Conceivmg,  from  your  well  known  charafter  in  the  Britilh  navy  for 
integrity  and  candor,  that  you  would  not  wifh  to  have  your  name  the  me- 
dium of  impofmg  fuch  a  grofs  mifreprefentation  and  fuch  dircftfalfehoods 
on  the  admiralty  hoard  and  the  Britifti  public,  we  have  taken  the  liberty  of 
thus  addrciring  you,  and  have  the  honor  to  lubfcribe  ourfelves  your  moft 
obedient  and  very  humble  fervants, 

IVm.  Hobart,  Walter  CoUm^   Henry  Allen,    Thomas  B. 
Molt,  Wm.  B.  Oni", 

Committee  oj  American  Priionfrtt  DarlmMf. 


s:^- 


"1'!  mi'^ 


JOURNAL. 


201 


[Inidoilion  to  the  documents  furniHied  by  the  committee  of  the  Dart- 
moor prifoncrs.  M-e  lay  the  following  affidavit  of  Archibald  Taylor  before 
the  public.  Will  people  doubt  this  evidence  alto  ?  Is  it  likely  that  com- 
mon foldiers,  hired  aiTnirins,  would  make  ufe  of  (imilar  exprrflions  from 
their  own  inipulfes  ?  or  is  it  not  much  niore  conformable  to  common 
fenfe  to  believe  that  this  was  the  language  held  by  their  officers,  and  that 
ihey  echoed  it.] 

City  of  New  York,  ss, 
Archibald  Tayhr,  late  rommander  of  the  Paul  Jones  private  armed  vef- 
fel  of  war,  being  duly  fwom,  doth  depofe  and  fay- 
That  he  was  a  prifoner  in  Dartmoor  prison  at  the  time  of  the  late  maf> 
sacreof  the  Americans  ;  that  after  the  unair  of  the  6th  of  April,  and  oa 
the  night  oFthe  famt  day,  he  was  in  the  prifon  No.  3,  afliftmg  Thomas 
Smith,  late  his  boatfwain,  who  was  (hot  through  his  l«g  by  the  loldiers  in 
the  yard,  when  an  order  was  received  to  have  all  the  wounded  removed 
from  the  prifons  to  the  hofpital  ;  and  while  this  depiinent  was  carrying 
the  faid  Thos.  Smith  to  the  door  of  the  prifon,  to  deliver  him  to  the 
guards  fele£led  to  receive  him,  fome  of  the  foldiers  obfcrved  to  this  de* 
ponent,  "  this  is  in  turn  for  the  aifair  at  New  Orleans,  where  you  killed 
our  men,  and  now  we  have  our  revenge" — and  further  this  deponent  faith 
not.  ARCHIBALD  TAYLOR. 

Sworn  before  me,  this  28th  June,  1815. 

AARON  H.  PALMER,  Notary  Puili'c. 


KING  AND  LARPENT'S  REPORT, 

Plymouth,  18f  A  4^{/,  1811. 

Wb  the  undersigned  commissioners,  appointed  on  behalf  of  oUr 
respective  governments,  to  inquire  into  and  report  upon,  the  unfortu- 
nate occurrence  of  the  6th  April  inst.  at  Dartmoor  Prison ;  having 
carefully  perused  the  proceedings  of  the  several  courts  of  inquir>',  in. 
stituted  immediately  after  that  event,  by  the  orders  of  Admiral  Sir 
John  T  Duckworth  and  Major-Generai  Brown,  respectively,  as  well 
as  the  depositions  taken  at  the  coroner's  inquest  upon  the  bodies  of 
the  prisoners,  who  lost  their  lives  upon  that  melancholy  occasion ;  upon 
which  inquest  the  jury  found  a  verdict  of  justifiable  homicide ;  pro- 
ceeded immediately  to  the  examination  upon  oath  in  the  presence  of 
one  or  more  of  the  magistrates  of  the  vicinity,  of  all  the  witnesses, 
both  American  and  £ngTigh,  who  offered  themselves  fur  that  purpose ; 
or  who  could  be  discovered  as  likely  to  afford  any  material  informa- 
tion on  the  subject,  as  well  as  those  who  had  been  previously  exam- 
ined before  the  coroner,  as  otherwise,  to  the  number  in  the  whole  of 
about  eighty     We  further  proceeded  to  a  minute  exan/mation  of  the 
prisons,  for  the  put7)ose  of  clearing  up  some  points  which,  upon  the 
evidence  alone,  were  scarcely*  intelligible ;  obtaining  from  the  prison- 
ers, and  from  the  officers  of  the  depot,  all  the  necessary  assistance 
and  explanation ;  and  premising,  that  we  have  been  from  necessity 
ccmpelled  to  di'aw  many  of  our  conclusions  from  stalements  and  evi- 
dence highly  contradictory,  we  do  now  make  upon  the  whole  proceed- 
ings the  Ibllowing  report:— 

During  the  period  which  has  elapsed  since  the  arrival  in  this  (DOUB- 
try  of  the  account  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  <Ghent,  an  increas- 
ed degree  of  restlessness  aad  impatieuoc  of  coDfijiement  appears  to 
17* 


III!; 


i 


V  ,1' 


:''i 


I) 


I 


20:2 


jeUKNAL. 


have  prevailed  amongst  the  American  prisoners  at  Dartraoof,  wliicfj, 
thouj^h  not  exhibited  in  the  shape  of  any  violent  excesses,  has  bten 
principally  indicated  by  threats  of  breaking  out  if  not  soon  released. 

On  the  4th  of  this  month  in  particular,only  two  days  previous  to  the 
events  which  are  the  subject  of  this  inquiry,  a  large  body  of  the  pri- 
soners rustled  into  the  market-square,  from  whence,  by  the  regula- 
tions of  the  prison  they  are  excluded,  demanded  bread  instead  of  bis- 
cuit, which  had  on  that  day  been  issued  by  the  officers  of  the  depot ; 
their  demands  liaving  been  then  almost  immediately  complied  with, 
they  returned  to  their  own  yards,  and  the-  employment  of  force  on 
that  occasion  became  unwecessary 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th,  about  six  o'clock,  it  was  clearly  proved 
to  us,  that  a  breach  or  hole  had  been  made  in  one  of  the  prison  walls, 
sufficient  for  a  full  sized  man  to  pass,  and  that  others  had  been  com- 
menced in  the  course  of  the  day  near  the  same  spot,  tliough  never 
completed. 

That  a  number  of  the  prisoners  were  over  the  railing  erected  to 
prevent  them  from  communicating  with  the  eentinels  on  the  walls, 
which  was  ot  course  forbidden  by  the  regulations  of  the  prison,  and 
that  in  the  space  between  the  railing  and  those  walls  they  were  tear- 
ing up  pieces  of  turf,  and  wantonly  pelting  each  other  in  a  noisy  and 
disorderly  manner. 

Tliut  a  much  more  considerable  number  of  the  prisoners  was  col- 
lected  together  at  that  time  in  one  of  their  yards  near  the  place  where 
the  breach  was  effected,  and  that  althotigh  such  collection  of  prison- 
ers  was  not  unusual  at  other  times  (the  Gambling  Tables  being  com- 
jnonly  kept  in  that  part  of  the  yard)  yet,  when  connected  witii  the 
circumstances  of  the  breach,  and  the  time  of  the  day,  which  wasaftep 
the  hour  tiie  signal  for  the  prisoners  to  retire  to  their  respective  pri- 
sons had  ceased  to  sound,  it  became  a  natural  and  just  gruimd  of 
alarm  to  those  who  had  charge  of  the  depot 

It  was  also  in  evidence  that  in  the  building  formerly  the  petty  uffi- 
cers*  prison,  but  now  t>^  guard  barrack,  which  stands  in  the  yard  to 
which  the  hole  in  the  wall  would  serve  as  a  communication,  a  part  of 
the  arms  of  the  guard  who  were  off  duty,  were  usually  kept  in  the 
racks,  and  though  there  was  no  evidence  that  this  was,  in  any  re- 
spect, the  motive  which  induced  the  prisoners  to  make  the  opening 
in  the  wall,  or  even  that  they  were  ever  acquainted  with  the  fact,  it 
nattu'ally  became  at  least  a  further  e»use  of  sucpicion  and  alarm,  and 
an  additional  reason  for  precaution. 

Upon  these  grounds  Capt.  Shortland  appears  to  us  to  have  been 
justified  in  giving  the  order,  which  about  this  time  he  seems  to  have 
given,  to  sound  the  alarm  bell,  the  usuai  signal  for  collecting  th^  offi- 
cers of  the  dejjot  and  putting  the  military  an  the  alert. 

However  reasonable  and  justifiable  this  was  as  a  measure  of  pre- 
caution, the  efliecls  produced  thereby  in  the  prisons,  but  which  could 
not  have  been  intended,  were  most  unfortunate,  and  deeply  to  be  re- 
gretted. A  considerable  number  of  the  prisoners  in  the  yards  where 
no  disturbance  existed  before,  an<l  who  were  either  already  within 
their  resj)eciive  prisons,  or  quietly  retiring  as  visual  towards  them, 
immediately  upon  tlte  sound  of  tlie  bell  rushed  back  frpm  curiosity 
'(as  it  appears)  lowaids  the  gates,  where  by  that  time  the  crowd  hj^d 


'■•ft 


-m 


■I    ■  II 


JOUllNAL. 


sol 


(t,  wljicfi, 
,  has  bteo 
•eleased. 
ious  to  the 
jf  the  pri- 
he  regula- 
ead  of  bis- 
Lhe  depot ; 
plied  with, 
rf  force  on 

irly  proved 

•ison  walls, 

been  com- 

»ugh  never 

erected  to 
the  walls, 

)rison,  and 
were  tear- 

91  noisy  and 

:r8  was  col- 
place  where 
I  of  prison - 
being  com- 
d  witii  the 
;h  was  after 
lective  pri- 
gruund  of 

petty  offi- 
|the  yard  to 
a  part  of 
:ept  in  the 
I  in  any  re- 

ke  opening 
the  fact,  it 
jalarm,  and 

have  been 
Ims  to  have 
ng  th^  ofii- 

Ire  of  pre- 

Ihich  could 

to  be  re- 

lirds  where 

idy  within 

jirds  them, 

curiosity 

trowd  hs^d 


5 
5 


assembled,  and  many  who  were  at  the  time  absent  from  their  yards, 
were  also  from  the  plan  of  the  prison,  compelled,  in  order  to  reach 
their  own  homes,  to  pass  the  same  spot,  and  thus  that  which  was 
merely  a  measure  of  precaution,  in  its  operation  increased  the  evil 
it  was  intended  to  prevent  \lmost  at  the  same  instant  that  the 
alarm  beli  rung,  (but  whether  before  or  subsequent  is  upon  the  evi- 
dence doubtful,  thoug'h  Capt.  hhortland  states  it  positively  as  one  of 
his  further  reasons  tor  causing  it  to  ring)  some  oiie  or  more  of  the 
])ris()ners  broke  the  iron  chain,  which  was  the  only  fastening  of  No.  % 
gate,  leading  into  the  market  square  by  means  of  an  iron  bar ;  and  a 
very  considej-able  number  of  the  prisoners  immediately  rushed  towards 
that  gate ;  and  many  of  them  began  to  press  forwards  as  fust  as  the 
opening  would  permit  into  the  square. 

Tliere  was  no  tlirect  proof  before  us  of  previous  concert  or  prepar- 
ation on  the  part  of  the  prisoners,  and  no  evidence  of  their  intention 
or  disposition  to  ttfect  their  escape  on  this  occasion,  excepting  that 
wliich  arose  by  inference  from  the  whole  of  the  above  detailed  circum- 
stances connected  together. 

The  natural  and  almost  irresistible  inference  to  be  drawn,  however, 
from  the  conduct  of  the  prisoners  by  Capt.  Shorilund  and  ihe  military 
was,  that  an  intention  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners  to  escape  was  on 
the  point  Af  being  carried  into  execution,  and  it  was  at  least  certain 
that  tliey  were  by  force  passing  beyond  the  limits  prescribed  to  them 
at  a  time  when  tliey  ought  to  have  been  quietly  going  in  for  the  night. 
It  was  also  in  evidence  that  the  outer  gates  of  the  market  square  were 
usually  opened  about  this  time  to  lei  the  bread  waggons  pass  and  re- 
pass to  the  store,  although  at  the  period  in  question  they  were  in  fact 
closed. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  with  these  impTcssions  necessarily 
operating  upon  his  mind,  and  a  knowledge  that  if  the  prisoners  once 
penetrated  through  the  square,  the  power  of  esc.;pe  was  almost  to  a 
certainty  afibrdttd  to  them,  if  they  should  be  so  disposed ;  Capt.  Short- 
land  in  the  first  instance  proceeded  down  the  square  towards  the  pri- 
soners, having  ordered  a  part  of  the  different  guards,  to  the  number  of 
about  fifty  only  at  first,  (though  they  were  increased  afterwards)  to 
follow  him.  Foi'  some  time  both  he  and  Dr.  Magrath  endeavored  by 
quiet  means  and  persuasion,  to  induce  the  prisoners  to  return  to  their 
own  yards,  explaining  to  them  the  fatal  consequences  which  must  en- 
sue if  they  refused,  as  the  military  would  in  tiut  case  be  necessarily 
compelled  to  employ  force  The  guard  was  by  this  time  formed  in 
the  rear  of  Capt.  Shortland,  about  two  thirds  of  the  way  down  the 
square — the  latter  is  about  one  hundred  feet  broad,  and  the  guard  ex- 
tended  neaily  all  across.  Capt  Shortland,  finding  that  persuasion 
was  all  in  vain,  and  that  although  some  were  induced  by  it  to  make 
an  effort  to  retire,  others  pressed  on  in  considerable  numbers,  at  last 
ordered  about  15  file  of  the  guard,  nearly  in  front  of  the  gate  which 
had  been  forced,  to  charge  the  prisoners  back  to  their  own  yards. 

'I'he  prisoners  were  in  some  places  so  near  the  military,  that  one  of 
the  soldiers  states  that  he  could  not  come  fairly  down  to  the  charge  j 
and  the  mditary  were  unwilling  to  act  as  against  an  enemy  Some 
struggling  ensutd  between  the  parties,  arising  partly  fspm  intention* 
but  mainly  from  tlie  pressure  of  those  behind  preventing  those  in  fixmt 


Vii^ 


'  t 


ti 


11. 


m 

(iil  ^ 

m 


mi 


f 


'm 


ao^ 


JUUUNAL. 


from  getting  back.  After  some  little  time,  however,  this  charge  ap^ 
pears  to  have  been  so  far  effective,  and  that  wiih  little  or  no  injury  to 
the  prisoners,  as  to  have  <iri\en  them  for  the  most  part  quite  down 
out  of  the  square,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  number  who  continued 
their  resistance  about  >io  1  gate. 

A  great  crowd  still  remained  collected  after  this  in  the  passage  be* 
tween  the  square  and  the  prisoners*  yards,  and  in  the  part  of  those 
yards  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gates — I'his  assemblage  still  refused  to 
withdraw,  and  according  to  most  of  the  English  witnesses  and  some 
of  the  American,  was  making  a  noise,  hallowing,  insulting  and  pro* 
Yoking,  and  daring  the  military  to  fire,  and  according  to  the  testimony 
of  several  of  the  soldiers,  and  some  others  were  pehing  the  military 
with  large  stones,  by  which  some  of  them  were  actually  struck.  This 
circumstance  is,  however,  denied  by  many  of  the  American  witnesses ; 
and  some  of  the  Engligh,  upon  havmg  the  question  put  to  them,  stated 
that  they  saw  no  stones  thrown  previously  to  tlie  firing,  although  their 
situation  at  the  time  was  such  as  to  enable  theai  to  see  most  of  the 
proceedings  in  the  square. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  firing  commenced  —With  regard  to 
any  order  having  been  given  to  fire  the  evidence  is  very  contradictory. 
Several  of  the  Americans  swear  possitively,  that  Capt  Shortland  gave 
that  order ;  but  the  manner  in  which  from  the  confusion  of  the  mo- 
ment, they  described  tliis  part,  of  the  transaction,  is  so  different  in  its 
details  that  it  is  very  diflUcult  to  reconcile  their  testimony.  Many  of 
the  soldiers  and  other  English  witnesses,  heard  the  word  given  by 
some  one,  but  no  one  of  them  can  swear  it  was  by  Capt.  Shortland, 
or  by  any  one  in  particular,  and  some,  amongst  whom  m  the  officer 
rommanding  the  guard,  think,  if  Capt.  Shortland  had  given  such  an 
order  that  they  must  have  heard  it,  which  the^  did  not.  In  addition 
to  this  Capt.  Shortland  denies  the  fact;  and  from  the  situation  which 
he  appears  to  have  been  placed  at  the  time,  even  accor^ng  to  the 
American  witnesses,  in  front  of  the  soldiers,  it  may  appear  somewhat 
improbable  that  he  should  then  have  given  such  an  order. 

But,  however,  it  may  remun  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  the  firing 
first  began  in  the  square  by  order,  or  was  a  spontaneous  act  of  the 
soldiers  themselves,  it  seemed  clear  that  it  was  continued  and  renewed 
both  there  and  elsewhere  without  orders;  and  that  on  the  platforms, 
and  in  several  places  about  the  prison,  it  was  certunly  commenced 
without  any  authority. 

The  fact  of  an  order  having  been  given  at  first,  provided  the  firing 
was  under  the  existing  circumstances  justifiable,  does  not  appear  very 
material  in  any  other  point  of  view,  than  as  shewing  a  want  of  self 
possession  and  discipline  in  the  troops  if  they  should  have  fired  with- 
out order. 

With  regard  to  the  above  most  important  consideration,  of  whether 
the  firing  was  justifiable  or  not,  we  are  of  opinion,  under  all  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case,  from  the  apprehension  which  the  soldiers 
might  fairly  emertain,  owing  to  the  numbers  and  con»luct  of  the  prison- 
ers, that  this  firing  to  a  certain  extent  was  justifiable  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  in  order  to  intimidate  the  prisoners,  and  compel  them 
thereby  to  desist  from  all  acts  of  violence,  and  to  retire  as  they  were  or- 
dered, from  a  situation  in  which  the  responsibility  of  the  agents,  and 
the  militaryi  couid  not  permit  them  with  safety  to  remiun. 


!*;ix. 


JOURNAL. 


JQO 


charge  ap^ 
lo  injury  to 
quite  down 

0  continued 

passage  be« 
urt  of  those 

1  refused  to 
s  and  some 
ng  and  pro- 
le  testimony 
the  military 
ruck.  This 
I  witnesses ; 
I  hem,  stated 
hough  their 
[nost  of  the 

Lh  regard  to 
mtradictory. 
[>rtland  gave 
I  of  the  mo- 
iferent  in  its 
f.  Many  of 
»rd  given  by 
.  Shortland, 

the  officer 
ven  such  an 

In  addition 
lation  which 
Ung  to  the 
r  somewhat 

if  the  firing 
act  of  the 

nd  renewed 
platforms, 

commenced 

d  the  firing 

appear very 

ant  of  seu 

fired  with- 

of  whether 
sdl  the  cir- 
ie  soldiers 
the  prison* 
a  military 
ipel  them 
:y  were  or- 
igents,  and 


From  the  fact  of  the  crowd  being  so  close  and  the  firing  at  first  be- 
ing attended  with  very  little  injury,  it  appears  probable  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  muskets  were,  as  stated  by  one  or  two  of  the  witness- 
es,  levelled  over  the  heads  of  the  prisoners  ;  a  rircumstance  in  some 
respects  to  be  lamented,  as  it  induced  them  to  cry  out  "  blank  cart' 
ridges,"  and  merely  irritated  and  encouraged  them  to  renew  their  in- 
sults to  the  soldiery,  which  produced  a  repetition  of  the  firing  in  a 
manner  much  more  destructive 

The  firing  in  the  square  having  continued  for  some  time,  by  which 
several  of  the  prisoners  sustained  injuries,  the  greater  part  of  them  ap- 
pear to  have  been  running  back  with  the  utmost  precipitation  and 
confusion  to  their  respective  prisons,  and  the  cause  for  furtlier  firing 
seems  at  this  period  to  have  ceased.  It  appears,  accordingly,  that 
Capt.  Shortland  was  in  the  market  square  exeiting  himself  and  giving 
orders  to  that  effect,  and  that  Lieut.  Fortye  had  succeeded  in  stop- 
ping the  fire  of  his  part  of  the  guard. 

tJnder  these  circumstances,  it  is  very  difficult  to  find  any  justifica- 
tion for  the  further  continuance  and  renewal  of  the  firing  which  cer- 
tainly took  place  both  in  the  prison  yards  and  elsewhere ;  though  we 
have  some  evidence  of  subsequent  provocation  given  to  the  military, 
and  resistance  to  the  turnkeys  in  shutting  the  prisons,  and  of  utoned 
being  thrown  out  from  within  the  prison  doors. 

Tlie  subsequent  firing  rather  appears  to  have  arisen  from  the  state 
of  individual  irritation  and  exasperation  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers,  who 
followed  the  prisoners  into  their  yards,  and  from  the  absence  of  nearly 
all  of  the  officers  who  might  have  restrained  it,  as  well  as  from  the 
great  difficulty  of  putting  an  end  to  a  firinj;  when  once  commenced 
under  such  cirgumstunccs,  <  '/a{A.  Shortland  was  from  this  time  busily 
occupied  with  the  turnkeys  in  the  square,  receiving  and  taking  care  of 
the  wounded  Ensign  White  remained  with  his  guard  at  the  breach, 
and  Lieuts  Ayelyne  and  Fortye,  the  only  other  subalterns  known  to 
have  been  present,  continued  with  the  main  bodies  of  their  respective 
guards. 

The  time  of  the  day,  which  was  theofficers'  dinner  hotir,  will  in  some 
measure  explain  this,  as  it  caused  the  absence  of  every  officer  from  the 
prison  whose  presence  was  not  indispensable  there.  And  this  circum- 
stance which  has  been  urged  as  an  argument  to  prove  the  intention  of 
the  pr'M^ners  to  take  this  opportimity  to  escape,  tended  to  increase  the 
confusion,  and  to  prevent  those  great  exertions  being  made  which 
might  perhaps  have  obviated  a  portion  at  least  of  the  mischief  which 
ensued 

At  the  same  time  that  the  firing  was  going  on  in  the  square,  a  cross 
fire  was  also  kept  up  from  several  of  the  platforms  on  the  walls  round 
the  prisoners  where  tb.e  centries  stand,  by  stragM'Hng  parties  of  sol- 
diers wlio  ran  up  there  for  tliul  purpose  As  far  as  tliis  fire  was  di- 
rected to  disperse  the  men  assembled  round  the  breach,  for  which  pur- 
pose it  was  most  efTectual,  it  m  ems  to  stand  upon  the  same  ground  as 
that  in  the  first  instance  ii\  the  square — That  part  wliich  it  is  positively 
sworn  wasditected  against  .stragjiUng  parties  ofpiisoners running  about 
the  yards  and  endeavoring  to  enter  in  the  few  doors  which  the  turnkeys, 
according  to  their  usual  practice,  had  left  open,  does  seem,  ?.s  stated, 
tu  have  been  AvhoUy  without  object  or  excuse,  and  to  have  been  a  waa« 


il 


i 


'  ii 


ki 


t- 


.*:'   I 


V;^l 


It-  ■ 


•  m 


206 


JOURNAL. 


ton  attack  upon  the  lives  of  defenceless,  and  at  that  tiine«  unoffending 
individuals. 

In  the  same,  or  even  more  severe  terms,  we  must  remark  upon  what 
was  proved  as  to  the  firing  in  the  door-ways  of  the  prisons,  more  par- 
ticularly into  that  of  No  3  prison,  at  a  time  when  the  men  were  in 
crowds  at  the  entrance.  From  the  position  of  the  prison  and  the  door, 
und  from  the  marks  of  tha  bulls  which  were  pointed  out  to  us,  as  well 
as  from  the  evidence,  it  was  clear  this  firing  must  have  proceeded 
from  soldiers  a  very  few  feet  from  the  door  wa}  ;  and  altiiough  it  was 
certainly  sworn  that  the  prisoners  were  at  tlie  time  of  part  of  the  firing 
at  least,  continuing  to  insult  and  occasionally  to  throw  stones  at  the 
soldiers,  and  that  tliey  were  standing  in  the  way  of,  and  impeding  the 
turnkey,  who  was  there  for  the  purpose  of  closing  the  door,  yet  still 
there  was  nothing  stated  which  could,  in  our  view,  at  all  justify  such 
excessively  harsh  and  severe  treatment  of  helpless  and  unarmed  pri- 
soners, when  all  idea  of  escape  was  at  an  end 

Under  these  impressions,  we  used  every  endeavor  to  ascertain  if 
there  was  th6  least  prospect  of  indentif\ing  any  of  the  soldiers  who 
had  been  guilty  of  the  particular  outrages  here  alluded  to,  or  of  tracing 
any  particular  death,  at  that  time  to  the  firing  of  anv  particular  indi. 
vidual,  but  without  success ;  and  all  hopes  of  bringmg  tlie  offenders 
to  punishment  vould  seem  to  be  at  an  end. 

In  conclusioi),  we,  the  undersigned,  have  only  to  add,  that  whilst 
we  lament,  as  we  do  most  deeply,  the  unfortunate  transaction  which 
has  been  the  subject  of  this  inquiry,  we  find  ourselves  unable  to  sug. 
gest  any  steps  to  be  taken  as  to  those  parts  of  it  which  seem  to  call  for 
redress  and  punisltmcnt 

(Signed)         CHAKLES  KING, 
FUANCES  SEYMOUR  LAKPENT. 

Plymouth,  April  26,  ^B15. 

Sir— Tn  pursuance  of  the  instructions  received  from  Messrs  Clay 
and  Gallatin,  I  have  now  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the  report  pre- 
pared  by  Mr.  Larpent  and  myself  on  behalfofour  respective  govern- 
ments,  iii  relation  to  the  unfortunate  transactions  at  Dartmoor  Prison  of 
War,  on  the  6th  of  the  present  month  Considering  it  of  much  im- 
portance that  the  report,  whatever  i*;  might  be,  should  go  forth  under  our 
joint  sij^atures,  I  have  forborne  to  press  some  of  the  points  which  it 
involves,  as  far  as  otherwise  1  might  have  done,  and  it  therefi)re  may 
not  be  improper  in  this  letter  to  enter  into  some  little  explanation  of 
such  parts  of  the  report 

Although  it  does  appear  that  a  part  of  the  prisoners  were  on  that 
evening:  in  such  a  state,  and  under  such  circumstances  as  to  have  jus- 
tified, in  the  view  which  the  commander  of  the  depot  could  not  but 
take  of  it.  the  intervention  of  the  military  force,  and  even  in  a  strict 
sense,  the  first  use  of  fire  arms,  yet  I  cannot  but  express  it  as  my  set- 
tled opinion,  that  by  conduct  a  little  more  temporising  this  dreadful 
alternative  of  firing  upon  unarmed  prisoners  might  have  been  avoided. 
Yet  as  this  o^iinion  has  been  the  result  of  bubsf-quent  examination,  and 
after  havinj?  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  compuratively  harmless  state 
of  tlie  prisoners,  it  may  be  but  fair  to  consider,  whether  in  such  a  mo- 
nent  of  confusion  and  alarnii  as  that  appears  to  have  becn^the  officer 


:lii 


'i-  (I 


ilfending 

ponvrhat 
lore  par- 
1  were  in 
the  dooFi 
s,  as  well 
rocecded 
gh  it  Nvas 
the  firing^ 
nes  at  the 
leding  the 
,  yet  still 
istify  such 
irmed  pri- 

BcerUdn  if 
Idiers  who 
•  of  tracing 
icular  indi- 
s  offenders 

that  whilst 
;tion  which 
ble  to  sug. 
n  to  call  for 

VNG. 
•ENT. 

!6,  1815. 
[essrs  Clay 
,  report  pre- 
live  govern- 
or Prison  of 

much  im- 
Ih  under  our 
Its  which  it 
]refore  may 

)lanation  of 

ere  on  that 

I  have  jus- 

[i\d  not  but 

in  a  strict 

J  as  my  set- 

I'lS  dreadful 

^n  avoided . 

Ination,  and 

nless  state 

Inch  a  mo 

Ithe  officer 


JOURNAL. 


207 


commtndinff  could  have  fairly  estimated  his  danger,  or  have  measured 
out  with  precision  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  force  necessary  to  guard 
against  it. 

But  when  the  firing  became  general,  as  it  afterwards  appears  to  have 
been,  and  caught  with  electric  rapidity  from  the  square  to  the  plat- 
forms, there  is  no  plea  nor  shadow  of  excuse  for  it,  except  in  the  per- 
sonal exasperation  of  the  soldiery,  nor  for  the  more  deliberate,  and 
therefore  more  unjustifiable  firing  which  took  place  into  three  of  the 
prisonSrNo.  1, 3  and  4,  but  more  particularly  into  No  3,  after  the  pri- 
soners  h-td  retired  into  them,  and  there  was  no  longer  any  pretence  of 
apprehensions,  as  to  their  escape  — Upon  this  ground,  as  you,  sir,  will 
perceive  by  the  report,  Mr  Larpent  and  myself  had  no  difflbrence  of 
opinion,  and  1  am  fully  persuaded  that  my  own  regret  was  not  greater 
than  his  at  perceiving  how  hopeless  would  be  the  attempt  to  trace  to 
any  individuals  of  the  military  these. outrageous  proceedmgs. 

As  to  whether  the  order  to  fire  came  from  Capt.  Shortland,  I  yet 
confess  mvself  unable  to  form  any  satisfactory  opinion,  though  per- 
haps the  bias  of  my  mind  is,  that  he  did  give  such  an  order  But  his 
anxiety  and  exertions  to  stop  it  after  it  had  continued  for  some  little 
time,  are  fully  proved,  and  his  general  conduct  previous  to  this  occur- 
rence, as  far  as  we  could  with  propriety  enter  into  such  details,  ftp- 
pears  to  have  been  characterized  with  great  fairness,  and  even  kind- 
ness, in  the  relation  in  which  he  stood  towards  the  prisoners. 

On  the  subject  of  any  complaints  against  their  own  government  exist- 
ing among  the  prisoners,  it  was  invariably  answered  to  several  distinct 
Zuestions  put  by  me  on  that  head,  that  none  tahatsoever  existed  or  had 
Ten  expressed  by  them^  although  they  confessed  themselves  to  enter- 
tain some  animosity  against  Mr.  Beasley,  to  whom  they  attributed  their 
detention  in  this  country ;  with  what  justice,  you  sir,  will  be  better 
able  to  judge.  They  made  no  complaint  whatsoever  as  to  their  pro- 
visions and  general  mode  of  living,  and  treatment  in  the  prison. 

1  have  transmitted  to  Mr.  Beasley,  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded 
on  this  melancholy  occasion,  with  a  request  that  he  would  forward  it 
to  the  United  States,  for  the  information  of  their  friends  at  home,  and 
I  am  pleased  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  say,  that  the  wounded  are  for 
the  most  part  doing  well. 

I  have  also  enclosed  to  Mr.  Beasley,  the  notes  taken  by  me  of  the 
evidence  adduced  before  us,  wiih  a  request  that  he  would  have  them 
fairly  copied,  as  also  a  copy  of  the  depositions  taken  before  the  Coro- 
ner, and  desired  him  to  submit  them  to  you  when  in  order. 

I  cannot  conclude,  sir,  without  expressing  my  high  sense  of  the  im- 
partiality and  manly  fairness  with  which  this  enquirj'  has  been  con- 
ducted on  the  part  of  Mr.  Larpent,  nor  without  mentioning  that  eveiy 
facility  was  afforded  to  us  in  its  prosecution,  as  well  by  the  military 
officers  commanding  here  and  at  the  prison,  as  by  the  magistrates  in 
the  vicinity. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  much  respect,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servant.  (Signed)  CHAULES  KING. 

Sis  Excellency  yohn  ^  Adam^,  Crc.  Oc 


WW' 


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DARTMOOR  PRISON. 

A  Return  of  Amtrkan  pritttitrt  tfvw  kilkd  and  -wounded  in  an  altempt  to  f tree  the 
military  guard  on  the  evening  of  the  6fh  of  Afn  It,  1815. 


151? 

Whether  man 

imber  on 
iienil  en- 
book 

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quaUty. 

Ship. 

orwar,inerch 

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?ssel, 


[arq. 


Iropiet'd. 


Impress- 
ed atCork 

Impres*d» 


ssel, 
issel, 


Inpces'd. 


Imprec'd. 


IiDpretid. 

Iropn 
Impn 

ID,  Jigent. 


Iropm'd. 
Impres'd* 


Reply  to  King  and  LaRpent's  Report. 

To  the  People  of  the  United  States. 

Ilavlnpf  perused,  with  attention,  the  j-eport  of  Mr.  Ciiari.cs  Kino, 
and  Francis  Seymour  Lahpent,  on  theli'  exuniinutiun  of  the 
■unjortunate  occurrence  at  Dartmoor,  on  the  6th  of  April  last— 

We,  the  undersigned,  being  there  at  the  time  this  unfortunate  oc- 
cufpence  took  place,  deem  it  a  duty  we  owe  to  the  surviving  sufler- 
crs  of  that  bloody  transaction,  to  our  fellow-citizens,  and  ourselves,  to 
make  some  remarks  upon  such  a  singidar  report  Although  we  pre- 
sume  tlie  door  is  forever  closed  against  any  further  investigation  of 
that  ever  to  be  remembered  transaction,  we  cannot  help,  however  con- 
trary it  may  be  to  our  wishes  to  irritate  the  public  feeling,  already  so 
much  excited,  entering  into  a  detailed  investigation  of  that  report. 

In  the  committee's  address  to  the  public  on  the  27th  of  June  last, 
preceding  the  publication  of  the  affidavits  of  some  of  the  prisoners, 
taken  on  that  melancholy  affair,  they  have  justly  anticipated  what 
would  be  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  ai'ter  their  investigation  ; 
they  drew  their  conclusions  from  the  singular  manner  in  which  the  in- 
vestigation was  conducted.  The  report  commences  by  stating,  that, 
after  carefully  perusing  the  proceedings  of  the  several  courts  of  inqui- 
ry, instituted  immediately  after  that  event,  they  proceeded  immedi- 
ately to  the  examination,  upon  oath,  of  ALL  the  witnesses.Jjoth  Amer- 
ican and  Knglish,  who  offered  themselves  for  that  purpose.  How  far 
this  part  of  the  report  is  correct,  we  shall  leave  the  public  to  judge. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  commissionei-s  at  the  depot,  the  commit- 
tee of  the  prison  were  sent  for ;    after  waiting  some  time  at  the 
door  of  the  room,  where  the  enquiry  was  held,  they  were  called  in 
separately  and  questioned  as  to  their  knowledge  of  the  transactions  of 
the  sixth.    The  depositions  of  those  who  were  e>'e  witnesses  of  that 
disgraceful  scene  w.ere  taken  ;  some  were  questioned  as  to  the  gener- 
al conduct  ot  Shortland;  previous  to  that  affair ;  it  was  represented  by 
them  as  it  would  have  been  by  all,  as  being  universally  cntelt  over-  > 
Searint^  and  oppressive.    After  having  finished  the  examination  of  the  , 
committee,  they  requested  them  to  bi^ng  forward  all  the  evidence 
that  was  likely  to  cast  any  light  on  the  suoject  of  ent^uiiy.    They  ac- 
cordingly, returned  into  the  prison,  and  drew  up  a  kst  of  the  names 
of  some  of  the  eye-witnesses  of  that  day's  occurrence.— Although  they 
could  have  brought  hundreds  to  the  examination,  and  the  sum  of 
whose  evidence  would  have  amounted  to  the  same,  yet,  the  committee 
not  wishing  to  impede  the  progress  of  the  investigation,  by  a  redun- 
dancy of  evidence,  they  were  careful  te  select  sudi  men  as  were  most 
likely  to  give  a  clear  and  distinct  account  of  all  the  circumstances,  98 
they  occurred,  under  their  knowled^,  taking  care,  at  the  same  time» 
to  procure  those  whose  different  situations  afforded  tiiem  an  bppor* 
tunity  of  witnessing  that  tr^saction,  from  the  commencement  to  the 
close.    8uch  was  the  e\idence  the  committee  had  selected,  to  the  num- 
ber of  about  fifty,  very  few  of  whom  were  ever  ejtamined,  although 
they  were  kept  waiting  in  the  turnkey's  lodge  (where  they  were  or- 
dered to  stay  until  called  for)  durinr  the  hours  of  investigation      Tn 
the  course  of  the  cnquity,  it  fleem»,  ue  comnolissionert  fosnd  K  necev* 
18 


'S-H.Jy>^^- 


'Vflt 

111'. 

'M 


I 


**^> 


210 


JOURNAL. 


i-^ 


■^m 


aary  to  survey  the  particular  situation  of  the  prisons,  and  iho.  points 
from  which  the  diff  rent  attacks  were  mafle  ;  they  accor«lin}(lv  ciiine 
into  the  yard  for  that  i)urpo»e.  and  after  ha\  injif  been  shown'  all  the 
places  from  whence  the  firinjif  wasconi'nuedjwlierethe  crowd  ot'pris. 
oners  had  assembled  on  the  first  alarm,  and  where  the  hole,  so  much 
made  a  handle  of,  had  been  made — after  a  slight  8ur>ey  of  tlicse  dif- 
terent  places,  they  retired  into  tlieir  session  room,  leaving  orders,  once 
more,  with  the  committee  to  liold  tlieir  evidence  in  readiness,  us  thty 
would  soon  be  called  upon  tor  examination.  1'he  committee  replied 
that  they  had  been  in  readiness  since  the  commencement  of  the  en- 
qiiiry,  and  were  then  only  waiting  their  orders  to  appear  before  tlicm, 
feeling  happy  in  the  idea  of  having  it  in  their  power  to  show  to  the 
court,  and  to  the  world,  by  the  evidence  they  haa  to  produce,  that  the 
attack  of  Shortland  on  the  defenceless  prisoners,  was  premeditated 
and  unjustifiable  in  any  point  of  view. 

After  attending  in  the  turnkey's  lodge  during  the  sitting  of  the  com- 
missioners, until  the  middle  of  the  third  day,  without  having  but  very 
few  of  the  evidences  sent  f  )r,  and  being  Vearful  that  they  might  be 
waiting  for  them,  the  committee  sent  them  word  that  the  witnesses 
were  still  in  attendance.  No  answer  being  returned  to  this  message 
for  some  time,  the  committee  became  uneasy  on  account  of  the  long 
examination  of  the  officers,  soldiers,  clerks,  and  turnkeys,  attached  to 
the  depot,  without  admitting  the  prisoners  to  an  equal  privilege  ;  and 
understanding  the  commissioners  were  about  closing  their  enquiry, 
they  again  sent  word  they  would  be  glad  to  liave  an  interview  for  a 
few  moments,  for  the  purpose  of  explaining  the  nature  of  their  evi- 
dence,  and  the  necessity  of  a  full  hearing  on  both  sides  af  the  question. 

No  ANSWER  BEING  RETURNED   TO   THIS  REQ^U  1ST,  and  Still  Waiting 

with  the  anxious  hope  that  they  would  soon  send  for  some  of  us  when 
we  were  told  by  one  of  the  turnkeys,  that  the  commissioners  were 
prepared  to  depart,  having  finished  the  examination  Astonished  to 
think  they  meant  to  leave  the  depot  without  clearly  investigating  the 
circumstances  that  wer«  the  cause  of  their  meeting,  and  feeling  indig- 
nant that  a  cause  of  so  much  importance  should  be  passed  over  so 
partially,  the  committee  ad<lressed  a  note  to  Mr  King,  begging  him 
not  to  shut  the  door  oi  cotnmunication  against  the  prisoners,  by  clos- 
ing the  inquiry  without  giving  them  the  privilege  of  a  hearing,  as  the 
greatest  part  of  our  witnesses  were  yet  unexamined,  and  their  evidence 
they  conceived  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  investigation. 
JtTfl  reply  vias  made  to  thit  note :  but,  in  a  few  moments,  we  were  told, 
that  the  commissionera  had  left  the  depot.  How  far  they  are  justifia- 
ble in  saying  they  examined  all  the  evidences  that  ofllered  themselves, 
we  think  is  sufficiently  shewn. 

The  commissioners  next  go  on  to  mention  the  insurrection  of  the 
prisoners  about  the  bread,  on  the  4th,  two  days  previous  to  the  events, 
the  subject  of  that  enquiry.  Although  the  report  correctly  states,  the 
prisoners  quietly  returned  to  their  own  yards,  after  tlieir  demands 
having  been  complied  with,  Mr  King  forg;ot  to  mention,  that  it  was 
clearly  represented  to  him,  had  the  prisoners  been  so  disposed  on  that 
night,  they  could  have  easily  made  their  escape.  Although  thait  trans- 
action had  nothing  to  do,  as  relates  to  the  prisoners,  with  the  events  of 
the  sixth,  we  merely  represent  this  circumstance  to  shew,  that  there 


3ir^ 


JOURNAL 


2H 


was  no  intention  whatever  on  tli^  '•  part  to  break  out  of  the  prison,  as 
Shortland  and  his  aillicrents  have  attempted  to  prove. 

Tlie  report  now  ifoes  on  to  mention,  tliut  on  the  evening  of  the  sixth 
of  April,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  cveninpf,  a  hole  was  iniule  in  one  of 
the  walls  of  tlie  prison  s'ltiiricnt  fur  afuU-si/.td  man  to  pass,  and  others 
had  been  commenced,  but  never  completed,  and  that  a  number  of  the 
prisoners  were  over  the  railings  erected  to  prevent  them  from  commu« 
nicatinj^  with  the  sentinels  on  the  walls,  and  thai  they  were  tearing  up 
pieces  of  tuif  and  wantonly  peltini?  each  other  in  a  noisy  manner 

As  to  the  hole  made  in  the  wall,  we  believe  the  causes  and  reasons 
have  been  already  sufficient!)'  explainetl  by  the  affiilavits  laid  before 
the  public.  With  respect  to  the  prisoners  being  between  the  iron  pal- 
ing and  tlie  wail,  it  could  have  beeHi  if  it  was  not,  easily  explained  ta 
Mr.  Kiiig,  hail  lie  given  an  opportunity,  it  seems,  that  on  t  lie  after- 
noon of  the  6th,  some  of  the  prisoners  having  obtained  ieave  of  the  sen- 
tinels nn  the  walls  to  go  over  and  lay  upon  the  grass,  others  seeing 
them  laying  so  much  a,  their  ease,  went  over  to  enjoy  the  same  privi- 
lege :  and  as  the  sentinels  made  no  objection  to  this  pruceedhig,  the 
number  was  soon  increased  to  siicli  a  degree,  that  it  became  no  longer 
an  enjoyment  to  those  who  first  obtained  the  privilege  ;  some  scufHing 
then  eiijued  among  ihemselvea,  and  they  began  to  pelt  each  other  with 
turf  and  old  shoes  principally  in  play,  and  among  so  many  no  doubt, 
their  must  have  been  considerable  noise:  but  how  they  can  possibly 
connect  this  ciruunistaitce  with  the  hole  made  in  the  wall,  is  entirely 
out  of  our  power  to  conceive,  as  the  iron  railings  separated  them  from 
the  pretended  breach  in  the  wall,  and  distant  from  it  more  than  half 
the  length  of  the  yaril ;  of  course,  had  the  hole  been  intended  as  a 
breach,  the  iron  paling  would  have  become  a  barrier,  histcad  of  facil* 
itating  the  means  uf  an  escape. 

As  to  that  part  of  the  report  which  mentions  the  guard-barracks  be- 
ing tke  repository  for  the  arms  of  the  guard  oii'duty,  and  of  its  stand, 
ing  in  the  yard  to  which  the  hole  in  the  wall  would  serve  as  a  cum- 
munication,  and  of  its  being  a  further  cause  uf  suspicion  and  alarm  to 
Captain  Shoi-tlund—to  one  acquainted  with  the  situation  of  the  prison, 
such  an  idea  woid  I  be  ridiculous  ;  but  to  those  who  are  not  acquainted 
with  it,  it  N^'ill  be  only  necessary  for  us  to  mention,  that  if  the  prisoners 
hud  the  intention  of  breaking  out  through  this  passage,  and  had  actu- 
ally got  into  the  barrack-yard«  the  difficulties  they  would  then  ha\c  to 
encounter  would  be  much  greater  than  to  break  a  passage*  through 
tlie  market  square,  or  the  back  part  of  the  yard.  As  to  the  idea  of 
their  poosessing  themselves  of  the  muskets  standing  in  the  raQksin  the 
guard-barracks  (even  if  they  knew  of  any  being  there)  it  is  childish  -, 
for  how  easy  would  it  have  been  for  the  conunanding  officer,  on  the 
sluM'test  intimation  of  such  an  attempt,  with  one  blast  of  his  bugle,  to 
have  called  all  his  guards  to.  the  spot  before  a  hundredth  part  of  the 
prisoners  could  have  got  into  the  yard,  and  by  that  means  instantly 
put  a  stop  to  any  further  proceedings  on  their  paK. 

We  cannot  c()nceive  how  Mr.  King  can  possibly  come  forward  and 
say,  on  these  grounds,  it  appeared  to  him  that  Capt  Shortland  was 
justified  in  giving  the  order  for  sounding  the  alarm  bell,  when,  if  he 
found  the  prisoners  were  conducting  themselves  improperly,  had  he 
sent  fur  the  committee  ^as  alwa}s  had  been  his  custom  heretofore, 


4; 


■,Ml' 


m 


212 


JOURNAL. 


Mir 


I 


when  he  had  any  charge  against  the  prisoners  for  improper  comtuct) 
and  told  them  that  the  prisoners  were  breaking  the  wall  (which  cir- 
cumstancei  as  has  been  published  before,  was  not  known  to  one  tenth 
of  the  prisoners)  and  requested  them  to  have  represented  to  those  en> 
gaged  in  it,  the  consequences  that  must  ensue  if  they  persisted  in 
such  conduct,  we  have  not  a  moment's  hesitation  in  saying,  they  would 
have  put  a  stop  to  any  further  proceedings  of  that  kind. 

That  part  which  relates  to  the  breaking  of  the  iron  chain  which  fast- 
ened No.  1  gate,  and  which  follows  next  in  the  report,  says  there  wa»  no 
evidence  to  show  whether  it  was  done  before  or  after  the  alarm  bell 
rang.  As  this  was  a  material  point  on  which  they  grounded  Shortland's 
justification,  we  have  to  regret  that  the  evidence  we  had  to  lay  before  the 
commissioners,  and  which  would,  in  our  opinion,  have  saffieiently  clear- 
ed up  tiiat  point,  was  not  examined.. 

On  the  ringing  of  the  alarm  bell,  the  rush  towards  the  gates  leading 
into  the  market  square  was  so  great  (attracted  as  has  been  before  stated 
by  curiositv)  that  those  in  front  were  irresistibly  pushed  forward  liy  those 
in  the  rear,  and  if  the  chain  had  not  broke  the  lock  must  have  given  way 
to  the  pressure,  and  by  this  opening,  it  is  bat  natural  to  suppose,  that  a 
number  must  have  been  shoved  into  the  square  in  front  o)  the  soldiers, 
"who  were  drawn  up  in  a  line  across  the  square,  with  Shortland  at  their 
head. 

If,  as  the  report  now  goes  on  to  state,  there  was  no  direct  proof  before 
them  of  a  previous  concert  or  preparation  on  the  part  ot  the  prisoners, 
and  no  evidence  of  their  intention  or  disposition  to  effect  their  escape  on 
this  occasion,  excepting  that  whi(ih  arose  by  inference  from  the  whole  of 
the  detailed  circumstances  connected  together,  had  Mr.  King  examined 
the  evidence  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners,  as  minutely  as  it  seems  he  ex- 
amined tkoee  on  the  part  of  Shortland,  he  could  not  even  have  drawn  the 
shadow  of  an  inference  of  that  being  their  intention. 

Where  the  commissioners  gat  their  evidence  for  asserting  that  Capt. 
Shortland,  by  (^uiet  means  and  persuasion,  endeavored  to  persuade  the 
prisoners  to  retire  into  their  respective  vards,  is  unaccountable  to  us,  as 
those  who  know  Captain  Shortland,  know  he  is  not  a  man  of  nersuasion.— 
It  is  corrtct  that  Dr.  M'Grath  used  every  exertion  to  persuade  the  pris* 
oners  to  retire  out  of  the  square,  which  if  Siiortland  had  allowed  sufH- 
«ient  time,  would  have  been  quietly  done — but  the  crowd,  by  this  time, 
had  bec«me  so  great,  and  the  pressure  from  the  rear  so  strong,  that 
those  in  front  could  not  retreat  until  time  should  be  allowed  for  those  in 
the  rear  to  fall  back,  but  the  hasty,  haughty,  and  overbearing  temper  of 
Shortland  could  not  allow  him  to  use  such  conciliatory  means.  He  or- 
ders (the  report  says)  fifteen  file  of  the  guard  fronting  the  open  gate,  lo 
the  charge  ;  and  after  some  little  time  the  charge  was  so  eflectual,  with 
but  very  little  or  no  injury  to  the  prisoners,  as  to  drive  them,  for  the 
most  part,  quite  out  of  the  square,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  number 
who  continued  their  resistance  about  No.  1  gate.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, continued  the  report,  the  firing  commenced. 

Here  we  beg  leave  to  request  an  attentive  perusal  of  the  affidavits^of 
some  of  the  prisonei^,  taken  by  the  committee,  and  which  relate  par- 
ticularly to  this  part  of  the  transaction.  It  is  there  positively  stated,  that 
on  the  soldiers  coming  to  the  charge  the  prisoners  ALL  retreated  into 
the  yard  and  pushed  the  gate  to  after  them.  If  the  commissioners  had 
examined  that  evidence,  this  part  of  the  report  ought  to  have  been  Ui6> 
ferenlly  expressed 

We  cannot  conceive  how  Mr.  King  finds  it  difficult  to  reconcile  the 
testimony  respeoting  Captain  Shortland's  giving  the  orders  to  fire ;  when 


'^W^m:'' 


JOURNAL.. 


213 


jfil 

I 


he  reports  that  several  of  the  Ameicans  swear  positively, 
that  Cai)t;i<ii  Shoi-tlaiitl  gave  Uiat  order — and  many  of  the  soldiers  and 
the  Kiip;li!ih  witnesses  heard  the  word  given  by  some  one,  but  could  not 
swear  it  was  by  Caiit-  Sliortland  ;  and  some  of  them  (among  whom  is  the 
ofHucr  commanding  the  guard)  think,  if  CapL.  Shortlaitd  had  given 
s'lch  an  order,  they  must  liave  hear<i  it,  which  they  did  not  Thus,  then, 
stands  ilie  foundaiion  for  this  part  of  the  report  An  English  officer 
THINKS  it  is  not  so,  and  several  Americans  swear  it  is  so  ;  and  he  finds 
it  very  dilHciilt  to  reconcile  their  testimony  The  lightness  with  which 
t'ney  seem  to  have  passed  over  this  most  important  point  of  that  day's 
tratisaclioii,  cannot  but  be  deeply  regretted  by  those  wlio  feel  for  the  un- 
happy sufferers,  when  they  go  on  to  state,  "It  may  remain  a  matter  of 
doubt  whether  the  firing  first  began  in  the  square  by  an  order,  or 
whether  it  was  a  spontaneous  act  of  the  soldiers  themselves  ;  it  seemed 
clear  it  was  continued  and  renewed  both  there  and  elsewhere,  without 
orders — and  that  on  the  platforms  and  several  places  about  the  prison  it 
was  certainly  commenced  without  any  authority.'"  We  must  once  more 
request  the  attention  of  I  lie  public  to  the  aifidavits  alreudy  published  ;  it 
is  there  sworn  by  one  of  the  witnesses,  that  previous  to  the  alarm  bell 
being  rung,  and  while  walking  in  the  yard,  a  soldier  called  to  him  from 
the  toalla  and  to!d  hi-m  to  go  in,  as  they  would  soon  beared  upon.  How, 
then,  can  it  be  poiisible,  that  a  soldier  on  the  walls  should  know  that  they 
would  soon  be  tired  upon,  if  the  order  had  not  been  previously  given  to 
that  effect  ?  And  had  the  bugle-man  been  examined,  he  could  have  stated, 
that  previous  to  the  ringing  of  the  alarm  bell,  he  received  orders  to 
sound  10  fire  ;  so  that  when  the  soldiers  took  their  stations  on  the  walls, 
they  were  charged  and  prepared  for  that  purpose  With  such  informs* 
tion,  we  conceive  tlie  committee  to  stand  fully  justified  in  stating  in  their 
report,  tlie  belief  of  its  being  a  pre-concerte(i  plan,  on  the  part  of  Short- 
land;  and  if  ibe  commissioners  had  possessed  themselves  with  a  knowl* 
edge  of  these  circumstances,  which  they  could  and  ought  to  have  don«, 
would  they,  then,  reported  Shortland  as  justifiable,  even  in  a  miitary 
point  of  view  ] 

The  next  thing  we  have  to  notice  in  the  report  is,  that  very  singular 
piragra:)h,  which  says,  "  from  the  fact  of  the  crowd  being  so  close,  and 
the  firing  at ./frsf  being  attended  with  very  little  injury,  it  appears  proba> 
ble,  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  muskets  were,  as  stated  by  one  or  two 
of  the  witnesses,  levelled  over  I  he  heads  of  the  prisoners,  a  circum- 
stance, in  some  respects,  to  be  lamented.*'  Is  it,  theii,  to  be  lamented^ 
that  the  soldiers  did  not  level  their  pieces,  on  \.\\e  first  fire,  directly  into 
the  crowd,  which  they  have  stated  to  be  so  great  and  so  close  that  a  sol- 
dier declared  he  could  not  come  fairly  dowif  to  a  charge  I  or  is  it  to  be 
lamented,  that  one  or  two  hnndre<l  were  not  killed  at  the  fir^t  discharge, 
antl  a  thousand  or  two  wounded  ?  If  so,  we  think  it  much  to  be  lamented, 
that  tlie  reporters  were  not  there,  and  placed  foremost  in  the  crowd. 

The  circumstance  of  so  few  being  hurt  at  the  first  discharge  is  not 
strange  to  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  situation  ;  and  this  occur- 
rence alone  corroborates  the  Amei*iuan  f  vidence,  and  ought  to  have  been 
sufficient  proof  to  the  commissioners  that  the  prisoners  upon  being  charg- 
ed upon,  retreated  through  the  gates,  and  sliut  them  after  them,  before 
the  faring  commenced  ;  and  which  circiimstance,  alone,  should  have  shut 
the  door  of  justification  against  Shortrund  for  commencing  a  fire  upon 
tbjm,  as  they  wer'<  in  tiieir  own  yards.  As  this  was  the  actual  situation 
of  the  prisoners  en  the  first  discharge,  and  the  soUliers  having  to  fire 
through  the  iron  [laling,  and  the  prisoners  retreating  on  a  descending 
eround,  of  course  brought  the  muskets,  wlien  down  to  a  level,  over  the 
heads  of  tl.  lyiiBOuers— it  was  •wing  to  this  fovtunute  circumslaoce  that 

18* 


i 


h 


i',i 


M 


■  * 

111' 
Ml  I 


"^ 


2i4i 


JOURNAL. 


w 


so  few  were  injured  on  the  first  discharge  of  the  musketry  ;  and  U  seems 
the  inhuman  Shortland  wds  aware  of  this  circumstance,  when  lie  was  diS' 
tinctly  heard  to  order  liis  soldiers  to  tire  low.  This  does  not  appear  to 
correspond  with  that  part  of  their  report  which  says,  "Capt.  Slioriland 
was  in  the  market  square  exerting  himself  in  giving  orders  to  stop  the 
firing." 

That  there  was  any  provocation  given  to  the  soldiers  to  justify  their 
subsequent  brutal  conduct,  the  commissioners  tliemselves  seem  to  find 
it  very  difficult  to  trace  any  evidence,  although  they  sa),  it  appears,  that 
there  was  some  resistance  made  to  the  tuinkcvs  iti  shutting  tiie  prison, 
and  that  stones  were  thrown. at  the  military.  Had  they  examined  the 
prisoners  sufficiently,  they  would  have  been  convinced  that  no  resistance 
was  made  to  the  turnkeys  in  shutting  the  doors.  As  to  throwing  stones 
at  llie  military  while  they  were  chasing  them  from  corner  to  corner,  and 
firing  at  them  in  every  place  where  they  had  taken  shelter  from  the 
balls,  could  it  be  expected  but  they  would  seize  on  something  for  self- 
defence,  when  they  saw  the  soUliers  running  at  them  with  their  bayo- 
nets, and  having  no  possible  means  of  escape,  as  it  has  been  before  stated, 
all  the  doors  in  tlie  prisons  had  been  previously  closed  except  one,  an«i 
that  one,  perhaps,  the  length  of  the  prison  from  him  Is  there  a  man,  in 
such  a  situation,  but  would  seize  on  the  first  weapon  that  offered  itself, 
and  sell  his  life  as  dear  as  possible.  Uow  can  they,  then,  make  that  the 
RJightcst  justification  lor  such  outrageous  conduct  on  the  part  of  Short* 
land  or  the  military  ? 

As  to  most  of  the  officers  being  absent  is  erroneous ;  It  could  have  been 
proved  that  there  was  an  officer  m  every  yard,  and  in  one  instance  where 
fte  was-  heard  to  give  the  order  to  fire  on  a  party  of  prisoners  close  by  the 
d  )or,  and  running  and  making  every  exertion  to  enter  the  prison. 

As  to  Capt.  Shortland  being  busy  in  the  square  with  the  turnkeys,  re» 
<'civing  and  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  certainly  shows  the  commission- 
ors'  want  of  correct  information,  for  it  is  already  before  the  public,  in  af- 
fidavit, the  cruel  manner  in  which  the  wounded  were  treated  by  him, 
and  of  his  abuse  to  the  prisoners  who  were  bearing  the  wminded  to  the 
hospital  gate.  That  part  of  the  report  which  relates  that  the  time  and 
commencement  of  this  transaction  was  the  officers'  dinner  hoar,  is  too 
ridiculous  for  a  comment.  We  do  not  bdieve  that  there  was  a  prisoner 
ill  the  depot  that  knew  when  or  where  the  officers  dined,  and  therefore, 
can  be  no  ground  for  an  argument,  that  (he  prisoners  were  taking  thi^ 
opportunity  to  escape. 

The  report  goes  on  to  state,  •'  the  cross-fire,  whkh  was  kept  up  from 
several  of  the  platforms  on  the  Avails  round  the  prison,  and  directed 
against  straggling  parties  of  prisone*  s  running  about  the  yard,  endeavor- 
ing to  enter  tiie  prison  by  the  door  which  the  turnkey  left  open,  accor> 
din";  to  their  usual  practice,  does  seem  to  have  been  without  object  or  ex- 
cuse, and  to  have  been  a  wanton  attack  upon  the  lives  of  defenceless^ 
ant!,  at  the  same  time,  unoftending  individuals."  In  answer  to  this  para- 
graph, we  shnll  only  reply,  tliat  had  the  commissioners  examhied  all. 
the  American  evidence,  and  aU.Mched  the  same  credit  to  it,  which  it  ap> 
pears  they  have  done  to  all  the  English  evidenre,  similar  expressions 
would  h.*tve  been  made  use  of  against  Shortland's  sonduet  throughout 
the  whole  of  their  report. 

It  api>eais  to  us,  after  an  attentive  examination  of  this  report,  that  the 
oommisHJoncrs  meant  to  justify  Shortland  in  commencing  his  murderous 
attack  u])on  the  prioOners,  and  to  condemn  the  soldiers  fur  continuing  it. 
(Singidar  as  this  idea  appears,  it  is  no  less  strange  to  us,  how  it  can  be 
possible  they  could  reconcile  it  to  their  feelings  to  make  up  a  report  con« 
lainiiTg  such  a  direct  coutradi&tion  to  reason ;   for  surely  If  Shortland 


HI! 


JOURNAt. 


213 


1(1  tl  seems 
le  was  dis- 
appear tf> 
Sliorlland 
:o  stop  t!it- 

stify  their 
em  to  find 
pears,  that 
lie  prison, 
mined  tlic 
resistance 
Mng  stones 
orner,  and 
'  from  tlic 
ng  for  self- 
.heir  bayo- 
brc  stated, 
t  one,  and 
e  a  man,  in 
bred  itself, 
kc  that  the 
t  of  Short- 

1  have  been 
ince  where 
lose  by  the 
son. 

•nkeys,  re» 
)mmission- 
iblic,  hi  af« 
:d  by  him, 
ded  to  the 
5  time  and 
our,  is  too 
a  prisoner 
therefore, 
taking  thi^ 


)t  up  from 
I  directed 
endeavor- 
en,  accor- 
ject  or  ex- 
;fenceles9» 

this  para- 
iiied  AL.L> 
hich  it  ap> 
xprc8sion» 

ii-oughout 

t,  that  the 
turderous 
tinning  it* 
it  can  be 
:port  con- 
bUortlftB^ 


C'liilil  be  justified  in  using  coercive  measures  in  the  first  instance,  tlif! 
iiiilitiiry  certainly  shoul<l  ne  acquitted  for  the  siibsLMjuent  niassucre,  as  the 
whole  was  conducted  under  liis  immediate  command  ; — and  if  l>e  bad  A 
uiGHT  to  kd!  one,  on  I  he  ^a  ne  ground  be  might  have  extended  it  to  » 
thousand.  And,  on  the  othi.-r  hand,  if  any  part  of  the  transaelion  is  to  be 
condemned,  Sbortland  should  answer  f«M'  the  whole  ;  for  what  necessilv 
con!<|  there  be  made  to  attempt  indejitifying  any  of  the  solJiers  .  Surely 
llie  commissioners  could  not  think  of  bringing  them  to  punishment,  as 
lliey  acted  by  tlie  direct  orders  of  Sbortland  and  <iis  officers  ; — and  if  any 
one  could  or  ought  to  be  made  to  answer  for  the  outrage,  it  should  be 
Siioriland. 

In  addition  to  the  contradictions  contained  in  the  commissioners' joint 
report,  Mr  King,  in  his  letter  to  his  excellency  J.  Q.  Adams,  almost  de- 
ni(!s  the  ground  on  which  tliey  hsive,  in  part  founded  Sbortland's  justifi- 
cation, when  be  says  (alluding  to  have  beard  several  Americans  fiiveur, 
po'iitively,  ibat  Sbortland  did  give  the  order  to  fire,  and  an  otficer  of  ihe 
g  lard  thiiik'ing  that  he  did  not,  as  he  shouM  have  heard  him)  "  pcibaps 
ibe  bias  of  my  mini  Was,  that  Sbortland  did  give  that  order;  and  wish- 
ing the  report  tf>  go  forth  under  our  joint  signsitures,  1  forbore  to  press 
some  of  the  points  so  far  as  otherwise  1  might  have  done." 

If,  then,  any  part  has  been  neglected,  or  passed  over  fornccommoda- 
lion,  or  any  other  purpose  (and  one  tliere  certainly  has,  in  not  paying 
the  same  attention  to  the  American  as  was  done  to  the  English  evidence} 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  .VIr»  King  should  so  far  forget  the  sacred  duties 
attached  to  the  appointment  of  a  commissioner  to  enquire  into  the  mur- 
der of  his  countrymen,  as  to  pass  over  any  points  which  might  have 
brought  to  light  the  means  of  punishment  for  the  murder,  or  obtained 
in  some  measure  an  indenmity  for  the  surviving  unhappy  sufferers. 

Will  not  the  shades  of  the  departed  victims  haunt  him  in  his  midnight 
slumbers,  and  pointing  to  their  lacerated  bodies,  say,  these  still  remain 
unavenged  ?  Will  not  the  unhappy  survivors  show  the  stumps  of  their 
amputated  limbs,  and  8.iy,  these  wounds  fester,  and  still  remain  nnaton- 
ed  \  Will  not  the  widow  and  the  helpless  orphan  raise  their  innocent 
hands  to  heaven,  and  cry,  why  M'as  justice  denied  us  ?  Why  was  the  heart 
so  callous  to  our  sufferings  ?— And  why  was  the  bosom  shut  to  sympathy  ? 
Let  Mr.  King  point  out  some  means  to  appease  these  bitter  complaints, 
and  we  shall  be  satisfied 

We  shall  now  close  these  unpleasant  remarks,  by  noticing  another  un- 
accountable error  in  Mr.  King's  letter  to  Mr.  Adams,  where  he  men- 
tions, speaking  of  Sbortland,  *'and  his  general  conduct,  previous  to  this 
occurrence,  as  far  as  I  could  with  propriety  enter  into  such  details,  ap- 
pears to  have  been  characterised  with  great  fairness  and  bven  kindness 
in  the  relation  in  which  he  stood  towards  the  prisoners."  We  shall  not 
pretend  to  ask  Mr.  King  where  he  obtained  the  evidence  on  which  he 
grounds  this  assertion  ;  we  are  sure  it  was  not  from  the  prisoners,  who 
ought  to  have  been  the  best  judges  of  that  circumstance  ;  but,  instead  of 
all  that,  all  tliv  Americans  who  were  permitted  to  express  an  opinion  on 
that  subject,  at  the  examination,  declared,  v/ithout  reserve,  as  would  all 
the  prisoners  in  the  depot,  had  they  been  asked  the  question,  that  Short- 
land  s  conduct,  from  the  commencement  of  his  appointment  to  that  sta- 
tion, had  been  cruel,  oppressive,  and  overhcariDg,  and,  instead  of  taking 
measures  to  alleviate  the  distresses  of  the  wretched  objects  under  him, 
as  n  feeling  man  would  have  done,  he  seemed  to  take  a  pleasure  in  liar, 
rassing  them  whenever  he  could  find  the  slightest  pretext  for  so  doing. 

W.  Cotton,  Joseph  Stvain,  JircKd  Taylor^  David  ^lealls,  Reuben 
Shernmn,  ArcKd  1.  Mackay,  Fhilip  Jllack^  Homer  j/all,  Jnmes  B. 
Mantfieid,  Jlbr'tn  M^  Intire,  fVm.  Cochran,  Henry  DolUver,  John  Jtneff 
£,  IVeek^t  f^m.  J)cmerell,  Th9mae  Ward,  WilUam  K.  White. 


ij  'I 


i(<i  I 


!!!» 


2i(} 


jouRNAi;. 


REMARKS. 

In  presenting  to  the  world  the  record  of  a  transaction,  probably  the 
most  barbarous  which  the  history  of  modern  warfare  can  furnish,  we 
cannot  refrain  from  remarks  —Whatever  our  feelings  may  be,  upon  a 
sulyect  so  amply  calculated  to  excite  the  indignation  and  abhorrence  of 
every  friend  to  hiniianity,  and  every  one  who  bus  respect  for  the  laws 
of  civilized  and  mitigated  warfai-e,  we  will,  nevertlieleys,  refrain,  so  far 
as  the  circunntances  of  outraged  humanity  will  permit,  from  the 
violence  of  invt- ctive,and  wholly  from  unwarranted  crimination.  Those, 
into  whose  hands  these  documents  rrtay  full,  will  however,  preser\  e 
them  as  a  monument  erected  to  tlic  memory  of  their  slaughtered  coun- 
trymen, and  a  memento  of  the  unfeeling  cruelty  of  our  late  enemy, 

Though  we  are  far  from  believing  that  there  are  not  persons  of  noble 
and  humane  minds  in  the  English  nation,  yet,  a  twiifoimity  of  conduct,  on 
the  part  of  the  Government  and  its  agents,  has  taught  us  to  believe  that 
they,  at  least,  ai*e  blood  tliirsty  and  cruel. 

The  incarceration  of  Americans  in  the  Jersey  Prison  Ship  at  New- 
York,  and  Mill  Prison,  in  England,  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  raised  in 
the  minds  of  the  sainted  heroes  ofthose  times,  the  most  exalted  feelings 
of  indignation  and  abhorrence.  The  history  of  those  prisoners,  where 
Imndreds  were  compelled  to  wear  out  an  existence,  rendered  miserable 
by  the  cruelty  of  an  enemy,  professing  {•  reverence  for  the  sublime  prin- 
ciples of  Christianity,  is  already  famdiarized  to  the  minds  of  the  Ameri- 
can i^ople.  If  the  feelings  of  Americans  were  then  indignant,  what 
should  ihcy  be,  on  beholding  those  cruehies  renewed  witli  more  than 
ten  fold  severity  ?  The  conduct  of  Thomas  George  Shortland,  the  agent 
at  Dartmoor  Prison,  is  such  as  should  "  damn  him  to  ovei  lasting  fame." 

Upon  what  principles  the  comluct  of  this  man,  precedent  to  the  ever 
memorable  6th  of  April,  1815,  can  be  justified,  we  cannot  determine. 
The  indiscriminate  confinement  of  both  officers  and  men  in  the  same  pri- 
sons, and  those  tlie  inoat  unfits  decayedt  and  loathsome  of  any  which  the 
Government  could  furnish,  was  an  infraction  of  the  established  laws  of 
civilized  nations  for  the  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war.  It  was  equally 
abhorrent  to  the  principles  of  humanity,  and  only  sanctioned  by  British 
governmental  agents,  and  those  petty  Nations  of  Snvages,  whose  known 
usages  of  warfare  have  hitherto  kei)t  them  beyond  the  pale  of  national 
law.  The  history  of  modern  European  wars  can  fiu-nish  no  parallel 
to  this  part  of  the  history  of  Dartmoor.  But  when  we  arrive  at  the 
slaughter  of  prisoners  on  the  6th  of  April,  the  climax  of  barbarity  is  com- 
plete, and  the  mind  is  sated  with  the  contemplation  of  principles  as 
shocking  to  humanity  as  the  consequences  are  degrading  to  the  charac* 
ter  of  the  English  nation 

An  eminent  writer  upon  national  law,  has  formerly  extolled  the 
••  English  and  French  for  their  treatment  given  to  prisoners  of  war,"  and 
at  the  same  time  mentions  the  case  of  Charles  1.  King  of  Naples,  who 
having  defeated  and  taken  prisoner  Conraue,  his  competitoi',  caused 
him,  together  with  his  fellow-prisoner,  Frederick  of  Austria,  to  be  be- 
headed at  Naples  Upon  this  case  our  author  has  the  following  perti- 
nent remarks  : — "This  barbarity  raised  an  universal  liorror,  and  I'eter 
ll)«  thii  d>  King  of  Arrag«n,  reproAchtd  Charles  with  it,  ;\b  a  detestable 


JOURNAL. 


217 


>ably  the 
iiish,  we 
:,  (ipon  a 
rreiice  of 
llic  laws 
in,  so  fiir 
from  the 
'i'hose, 
preserNC 
•ed  couu- 
my. 

j  of  noble 
mluct,  on 
lievc  that 

at  New- 
raised  in 
:l  feelings 
IS,  where 
miserable 
ime  prin- 
e  Amei'i- 
tnt,  what 
lore  ihun 
the  agetit 
igfanie.'* 

tlie  ever 
etarmine. 
same  pri- 
vliich  the 
d  laws  of 
3  equally 
)y  British 
se  known 
r  national 
>  parallel 
ive  at  the 
ty  is  com- 
iciples  as 
le  charac* 

oiled  the 
var,"  and 
plesi  who 
r,  caused 
to  be  be- 
ing pcrti- 
ind  I'eter 
eleslable 


crimei  till  then  unheard  of  amon^  christian  princes.  However,  the 
oase  was  of  a  dangrerous  rival  contending  with  him  for  the  throne.  But« 
supposing  the  clainnsof  iiis  rival  were  unjust,  Charles  might  have  kept 
him  in  prison  until  he  had  renounced  them,  and  given  security  for  his 
future  behavior."  If  this  act  of  Charles  raised  an  ••  universal  horror," 
what  should  be  the  excitement  produced  by  the  cold  blooded  massacre 
of  a  number  of  unarmed  and  unofTending  prisoners  of  war  in  confine- 
ment ?  Humanity  shudders  at  the  thought,  and  language  furnishes  no 
appropriate  epithet  with  which  to  brand  the  infamous  perpetrator  of  so 
foul,  so  hitherto  unheard  of  a  crime.  Did  that  writer  now  live,  he 
would  no  longer  extol  the  humanity  of  the  English  nation,  but  in  com- 
mon with  the  friends  of  humanity,  he  would  join  in  the  **  universal  hor- 
ror" which  British  cruelty  has  excited. 

The  complexion  of  this  transaction  is  rendered  still  more  dark  &nd 
barbarous,  and  its  criminality  most  shockingly  enhanced,  by  the  cir- 
cumstances \mder  which  many  of  those  unfortun.ite  men  became  pri- 
soners, and  finally  were  oHered  up  as  victims  to  gratify  the  cruel  and 
insatiate  feeling  of  the  British  agent  They  loere  American  Citizenst 
Viho  had  been  impressed  into  the  service  and  bondage  of  Great  Britain, 
in  timx  of  peace  They  had  sei-ved  that  government  from  a  necessity, 
arising  from  the  assumed  principle  of  a  right  to  search  neutral  ves- 
sels for  British  seamen,  and  the  practice  of  taking  Americans  and 
compelling  them  to  service.  We  cannot,  however,  too  much  ap- 
plaud the  magnanimity  of  thosQ  men,  in  refusing  to  fight  against  and 
slaughter  their  countrymen  ;  nor  can  we  too  much  detest  the  conduct 
of  Great  Britain,  in  confining  them  as  prisoners  of  war. 

This  practice,  assumed  as  a  right  in  the  first  moments  of  our  exist- 
ence as  an  independent  and  commercial  nation,  has  "  grown  with  our 
growth,"  and  the  evil  thereof  has  inrreased,  in  proportion  as  our 
commercial  rivalship  has  become  more  alarming  to  the  pride  and  in- 
justice of  Great  Britain.  It  is  a  practice  which  cannot  be  traced  to 
any  principal  of  justification ;  and  ,rf  we  have  seen  the  legislators  of 
Massuchusttts,  clothed  vjith  a  garb  of  official  sanctity,  send  to  the  tuorld 
a  report,  nm^ounting  alm,':st  to  a  denial,  that  such  a  practice  tuns  in  exist' 
ence  !  We  pretend  not  to  judge  of  their  motives ;  out  we  remark,  how 
soon  they  are  confounded  by  the  report  of  ShortlanU  and  Magrath. 
By  that  instrument  it  appears,  that  of  thirty-eight  who  were  ':iiled  or 
nvoun  led,  twelve  were  of  the  number  of  Impressed  Anuricans,  who  had 
given  themselves  up  as  prisoners  of  war,  upon  the  commencement  of 
hostilities,  if  this  be  the  correct  proportion  ot  their  prisoners,  who 
have  been  impressed  from  American  vessels,  and  as  it  U  an  ofRiial  doc- 
ument of  British  authority,  we  cannot  believe  the  ratio  to  be  less,  we 
see  the  advocates  of  British  m&gnanimity  confounded  and  put  to 
shame, by  the  testimony  ut  those  same  British  agents,  whose  justificatiou 
they  have  so  eagnrlv,  though  unsuccessfully  Htiempted.  It  migkt,  m- 
deed,  have  been  suppose/),  t  :at  after  havin^r  so  frequently  been  treat- 
ed with  the  same  contempt,  they  might  have  learned  sulficientcautioc^ 
at  least,  to  stay  their  measures  until  the  pleasure  of  their  transatlantic 
friends  should  be  known.  But  their  overweening  anxiety  has  only 
tended  to  plunge  them  in  deeper  embarrassments,  and  should  teach 
themj  that  more  prudence  and  less  seal  ia  the  cause  ox  a  national  euei* 


2Ltt 


JOURNAL. 


B. 


my,  might  secure  them  a  aafer  retreat  in  the  momenta  whtu  tho«e 
whoae  frieadship  they  had  so  auxiously  sought,  had  deserted,  and  cou- 
demned  them. 

By  the  report  of  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  upon  the  subject 
of  impressments, it  would  appear  thnt  no  morr  than  ^ixijc  .  had  been 
impressed  from  this  Cummonwealth.  What  must  be  our  conclusion 
upon  a  comparison  of  this  report,  with  that  of  Messrs  thortJand  and 
Magrath  }  It  is  irresistabie.  either  that  the  former  did  not  report  the 
full  number  of  impressments,  or  thkt  t^e  latter  have  aggravated  their 
guitt  and  condemnation,  by  swe'ling  the  nttmber  to  a  decree  beyond 
what  the  facts  would  juktify  from  some  cause,  unknown  to  tlteir 
American  advocates,  and  m  favor  of  the  facts  iind  pr  inc!ples.  for  which 
the  American  government  h^ive  uni;urmly  contended.  A  few  of  those 
assumed  as  facts,  by  the  pre.sent  do  'inant  p'trty  in  New  England, 
may  aid  us  in  this  enquiry  and  perhaps  conrluct  us  to  a  correct  cou< 
elusion.  They  have  repeatedly  told  us.  thai  Ncw-Eng'and^  and  more 
particularly  Massachusetts,  h^s  ever  been  the  uur.<-eiy  of  our  seMmen. 
That  this  section  had  furn'shed  more  than  t'le  who!"  remaining  part 
of  the  United  States.  Admitting  the  correctness  of  the  report  of 
Shortla&d  and  Magrath,  we  are  wholly  un;<ble  io  reconciie  the  report- 
of  our  Legislature  w>th  those  which  they  assume  as  facts,  and  unon 
which  the  prmciples  of  their  report  were,  in  part,  predic^ited.  It  cz< 
hibiti*  to  our  view  a  disposition  to  fritter  away  the  enormities  of  the 
British  Government  and  a  determinatioti  to  jiisMfy  them  in  eve  y  act  of 
barbarity  however  unjustifiable  in  its  circv.mslances,  or  however  siiock- 
ing  in  its  operation 

The  report  of  Messrs  King  and  Larpent  may  here  cl><im  a  portion 
of  our  attention  Unpleasant  as  the  task  m»y  he.  to  reflect,  even  indi- 
rectly  upon  the  conduct  of  one  of  our  countrymen,  acting  in  the  high 
and  6olemn  capacity  to  which  Mr.  Kinr-  was  called,  we  cannot,  how- 
ever, without  doing  violem  e  to  our  own  feelingi,  and  criminating  num- 
bers of  our  countrymen  perhaps  equally  entitleti  to  credibility  with 
Mr  King  h  mself..  afford  our  credence  to  his  singular  report;  espe- 
cially when  we  see  it  contradicted  unconditionally,  by  the  unfortu- 
nate witnesses  of  the  unhappy  and  barbarous  transaction. 

Even  Mr.  King  himself  in  his  letter  to  Mr  Adams  furnishes  a  tar- 
dy acknowledgment,  that  he  had  riot  completed  the  duties  to  which 
he  had  been  called.  '*  Considering  it  of  much  importance  (he  says) 
that  the  report,  whatever  it  might  bf,  should  go  forth  under  our  joint 
signatureii,  I  have  foreborn  to  press  so;re  of  the  poi>  ts  which  .t  in-' 
volveti  as  far  as  otherwise  I  might  have  done. '  And  --hv  aid  Mr. 
King  forbear  to  press  every  point  involved  in  the  report  ?  Was  it 
from  a  disposition  to  perform  his  whole  duty  o  hin  country  ;  or.  rather, 
from  a  too  common  atimiration  of  British  principles  and  British  char- 
acters. 

The  numerous  offidaviks  accompanying  the  report  made  by  the  com- 
mittee of  the  prisoners,  together  with  the  r^p'y  t'>  the  report  of  Mes- 
srs King  and  Larpent,  afford  the  most  positive  te^tintony  in  tontradic- 
tion  to  many  of  its  prominent  features.  We  ran  form  no  other  opin- 
ion respecting  this  report,  than  either  that  Mr.  King  was  overreached 


JOURVAL. 


219 


71 
I 


'hto  those 
[,  and  cou> 

the  subject 
.  hail  b«en 
conclusion 
rtland  and 
••eport  the 
rated  their 
ee  beyond 
^  to  tiieir 
.  for  which 
'wof  those 
f  England, 
jrrect  con- 
and  more 
ur  seamen, 
lining;  part 
report  of 
the  report- 
and  ui>on 
ed.  It  cx- 
:ies  of  the 
ve  y  act  of 
ver  shuck'* 

a  portion 
even  iudt- 

the  high 
not,  how- 

ng  Dum- 

lity  with 
irt;  espe- 

unfoitU" 

^es  a  tar- 
to  which 
(he  says) 
our  joint 
ifh  .1  in-' 

iid  Mr. 

Was  it 
)r,  rather, 
ish  char- 

the  com- 
of  Mes- 
outradic- 
ter  opin- 
rreached 


by  his  colleague,  or  that  he  was  predetermined  to  fritter  down  the 
abuses  which  the  British  Government  and  its  agents  had  lavished  upon 
tlteir  American  prisoners  Why  either  Messrs  King  or  Larpent 
should  decline  the  examination  of  aii  the  witnesses  offered  by  the  pri- 
soners, is  v'holly  inexplicable,  unless  we  attribute  to  them  a  mutual 
and  fixed  determination  to  justify  the  conduct  of  ;)hortland  and  his 
accomplices,  at  the  expense  of  criminating  hundreds  of  Americans, 
who  were  no  less  entitled  to  credibility  than  either  of  themselves. 
Hereafter,  "  iet  no  such  men  be  trusted." 

The  treatment  to  the  prisoners  appears  to  have  proceeded  from  the 
same  principles  of  inhumanity,  which  have  given  rise  to  the  hostile 
operations  of  the  British  Commanders  upon  our  maritime  and  inland 
frontiers,  during  the  continuance  of  the  late  contest.  Such  principles 
belong  only  to  Sava?cs.or  their  allie*'.  The  outrages  at  the  river  Rai- 
sin. Hampton,  Havre  de  Grace,  Washiagton  ^  nd  those  attempted  at 
New-Orleans;  it  was  thought,  might  have  filled  the  measure  of  British 
barbarities  But  to  the  prisons  of  Dartmoor  was  transferred  the 
scene  of  its  ccnpletion.  Americans,  armed  la  defence  of  their  soil, 
their  Constitution,  and  natural  rights,  were  too  invincible  to  the  "  ve- 
teran" conquerors  of  the  East.  Prisoners  ttj  viar  in  coitfinttnent,  and 
viithout  annstiueve  selected  as  the  objects  upon  luhich  they  might  glut  their 
inalici. 

We  have  heard  much  from  a  certain  class  of  our  politicians  of  the 
Imrning  of  Newark  and  St  David's  ;  but  little  have  they  said  of  the 
destruction  of  Bufifalo  of  Washington  City,  or  the  massacre  of  our  un- 
fortunate countrymen  at  Dartmoor ;  andth'it  ■it:t  Lis  been  directed  to 
the  justification  oj  the  perpetrators  The  conflagration  of  our  Capitol, 
with  the  appendages  of  art  and  taste,  and  even  the  slaughter  of  our 
countrymen, could  not  excite  in  those  mmt'sone  feeling  of  indignation  ; 
whilst  the  unauthorised  destruction  of  a  few  houses  within  the  terri- 
torial Hmus  of  our  enemy,  not  only  excited  their  warmest  sympathies 
for  the  enemy,  bur  their  foulest  denunciations  of  our  own  Govern- 
ment 

We  might  here  attempt  a  comparison  of  the  treatment  of  each  Gov- 
ernment to  their  prisoners  But  the  contrast  is  bo  evident,  that  we 
•hall  commit  it  to  our  readers  without  remark. 

Where  is  the  American,  who!*e  feeiings  do  not  become  indignant,  af« 
ter  a  full  and  dispassionate  view  ot  all  the  circumstances  connected  with 
this  savage  transaction  ? — Though  we  uay  again  be  told,  that  Great 
Britain  is  the  "  Bulwark  of  our  ReHgior.  /  yet  iv  may  be  hoped,  that 
few.  indeed,  will  he  found  to  worship  in  a  temple  stained  with  the 
blood  of  their  countrymen  or  consign  their  consciences  to  the  keeping 
of  the  upholders  of  the  the  temple  of  Juggernaut,  or  the  restorers  of 
Papal  power. 

Though  our  policy  as  an  Independent  Republic  is  pacific,  yet 
should  our  rights  again  be  assailed,  and  future  wars  ensue,  \\S,  WILL 
UE  MtiM  liKU  DA  ta  MUOK ! 


i 


^"•■V' 


e*f 


20 


JOURNAL. 


The  nipfht  foIlnwinG^  the  shockinn;  massacre  was  spent 
in  deep  disquietude.  As  we  knew  noi  what  had  actuully 
occasioned  this,  in  some  degree,  deliberate  shiui^hter,  so 
we  were  Hlled  with  anxiety  as  to  its  final  terminuiion.  The 
horrors  of  Paris,  under  Uobespiere,  rose  to  view,  and  de- 

firived  us  of  sleep ;  or  if  wearied  nature  ajot  a  moment's  re* 
ief.  many  waked  np  screaming  with  the  impression,  that 
they  were  under  the  hands  of  a  murderer  dressed  in  red. 

I'he  gates  of  our  prison  were  closed  up  in  the  morning, 
and  each  one  seemed  describing  to  his  neighbor  what  he 
had  seen  and  heard  ;  and  every  one  execrating  the  villain 
who  had  nncasioned  the  massacre.  \\\  the  course  of  the 
day,  a  British  colonel,  whom  we  had  never  before  seen, 
appeared  at  the  inner  gate,  attended  by  the  detestiblc 
8horiland,  who  was  pale  and  haggard  like  ordinary  mur- 
derers. The  colonel  asked  us,  generally,  What  was  the 
cause  of  this  unhappy  state  of  things  ?  We  related  some 
particulars  as  well  as  we  could  ;  but  all  united  in  accusing 
capt.  Thomas  Shortland  of  deliberate  murder.  On  Short- 
land's  denying  some  of  the  accusations,  the  colonel  turned 
round  to  him,  and  said,  in  a  very  serious  tone,  '^  8ir^  you 
have  no  right  to  speak  at  thistime.^*  Upon  which  I  thought 
the  valiant  captain  would  have  fainted.  He,  doubtless, 
thought  of  an  halter.  The  colonel  went  to  the  other 
yards,  and  received,  as  we  were  informed,  statemients  not 
materially  differing  from  what  he  first  heard.  The  colo- 
nel's manner  left  an  agreeable  impression  on  our  minds. 
He  appeared  to  be  serieusly  grieved,  and  desirous  to  find 
out  the  truth. 

The  next  day  major  general  B  came  up  from  Plym- 

outh in  the  forenoon,  and  made  some  trifling  inquiries  in 

the  afternoon.     Soon  after  came  admiral  R ,  and  a 

captain  in  the  navy,  whose  name  1  do  not  remember.  They 
went  into  the  military  walk  over  the  gates,  when  the  space 
below  was  soon  filled  with  prisoners.  The  admiral  did 
not  impress  us  quite  so  agreeably  as  the  colonel,  who 
i^eemed  to  speak  and  look  his  own  good  feelings ;  while 
the  former  appeared  to  have  got  his  lesson,  and  have  come 
prepared  to  question  us,  like  an  attorney  rather  than  like 
a  frank  and  open  seaman.  The  admiral  informed  the 
prisoners  that  he  was  appointed  by  the  commander  in 
ehiefat  Plymouth,  to  inquire,  w/iffftfr  the  prisoners  had 
any  cause  for  complaint  against  the  British  government^  as 


JOURNAL. 


~  .1 


to  their  provisions  ?  There  ensued  a  short  silence,  until 
our  countryman,  Mr.  Colton^  a  man  who  was  neither  in- 
tiiniiiated  hy  rank,  nor  disconcerted  by  parade,  answered 
liini  and  said,  that  "  the  aftuir  of  proviftions  was  n'>t  the 
occasion  of  their  present  distress  and  anxiety,  hut  that  it 
was  the  horrid  massacre  of  their  unoifendini^  and  unresist- 
ing^ countrymen,  wliose  blood  cried  from  the  i^round,  like 
the  blood  of  Abel,  for  justice.  We  have  notiiiu:;  now  to 
say  about  our  provisions  ;  that  is  but  a  secondary  concern. 
Our  crv  is  for  due  venareance  on  the  murderer  Short! and, 
to  expiate  the  horrors  of  the  Cth  of  April.  We  all  com- 
plain of  his  hau!j;lity,  unfeeling,  and  tyrannical  conduct, 
at  all  times,  and  on  all  occasions."——*'  That  wk  have 
NOTHING  TO  DO  w  iTH,"  sKid  the  admiral,  and  then  repeat- 
ed the  former  question,  relative  to  the  British  s^nvernment 
and  the  provisions  ;  to  which  iVlr.  Colton  replied  in  a  still 
more  exasperated  tone  of  accusation  aa;ainst  the  murder- 
er and  the  murder.  "  JVien  you  d»  noW^  said  the  admiral, 
*'  complain  of  the  British  government  for  detaining  you 
here  ?^'  '*  By  no  means,"  said  our  spokesman,  "  the  pris- 
oners, one  and  all,  ascribe  our  undue  attention  here,  to  a 
neglect  uf  duty  in  our  own  agent,  Mr.  Beasly."  "  Then 
I  hope"  said  the  admiral,  "  that  you  wilt  all  remain 
tranquil.  1  lament  \s  mvch  as  vou,  the  unfortunate  oc- 
currence that  has  taken  pluce.*^  Upon  this,  Mr.  Colton 
mentioned  ])articularly  the  murder  of  the  boy  who  was 
shut  up  in  No.  4,  al'ier  the  pri-^oners  were  alt  driven  in 
through  the  doors,  and  averred  that  he  was  killed  by  the 
direct  order  of  a  British  officer,  who  came  to  the  door 
Mith  some  of  the  guard.  "  That  is  the  luhsfer -hacked  vil- 
lain^'* exclaimed  a  young  man,  *'  that  stands  behind  you, 
sir  !  who,  I  heard  deliberately  order  his  men  to  fire  on  the 
prisoners,  after  they  had  all  ^'of  into  the  building.  I  saw 
him,  and  heard  himirive  the  orders,  and  had  liked  to  have 
been  bayonetted  myself  by  Ids  s.ildiers.'^  The  Admiral 
looked  round  on  the  oilicer,  who  reddened  almost  to  a  pur- 
ple, and  sneaked  away,  and  was  '^cou  no  more  ;  and  thus 
ended  what  was  proliuMy  en  lied  Admiral  It's  examination 
into  the  causes  of  the  massacre  ! 

1  know  of  no  examination  after  lliis,  if  such  an  inter- 
view may  be  called  an  examination  ;  for  on  the  — of  Ap- 
ril, myself  and  a  few  others  were  set  at  liberty.  We  had 
made  application  the  night  before,  and  passed  the  night 


Si2 


JOURNAL. 


in  sleepless  aniiety.     At  10  o'clock  orders  vrere  sent  doHia 
to  collect  our  things.  We  dare  not  call  our  wretched  bat^- 

f;age,  by  any  other  than  the  beggarly  name  of  ^*  duds.^* — 
n  consequence  of  this  order,  the  turnkey  conveyed  us  to 
the  upper  gate,  where  we  remained  a  while  fluttering  be- 
tween fear  and  hope.     At  length  the  sergeant  of  the  guard 
came,  and  opened  the  gate,  and  conducted  us  to  the  guard 
room*  where  our  fears  began  to  dissipate  and  our  hopes  to 
brighten.     When  the  clerk  entered,  he  must  have  seen 
anxiety  in  our  countenances,  and  was  disposed  to  sport 
with  our  feelings.     He  put  on  a  grave  and  solei^in  phiz, 
mixed  with  a  portion  of  the  inftoience  of  office,  as   if  he 
were  about  to  read  our  death-warrants,  while  we  cas^  a 
look  of  misery  at  each  other.     At  length,  with  apparent 
reluctance,  he  vouchsafed  to  hand  to  each  of  us,  like   a 
miser  paying  a  debt,   the  dear  delicious  paper,  the  evi- 
dence of  our  liberty  !  on  which  was  w  rilten,  **  by  order  of 
the  transport  board.*'     This  was  enough.     We  devoured 
it  with  our  eyes,  clinched  it  fast  in  our  nsts,  laughed,  ca- 
pered, jumped,  screamed,  and   kicked  up  the  dirt  like  so 
many  mad  men ;  and  away  we  starl:.-^  for  I'rincetown, 
looking  back  as  we  ran,  every  minute,  to  see  if  our  cere- 
bus,  with   his  bloody  jaws,  was  not  at  our  heels.     At  ev- 
ery step  we  took  from  the  hateful  prison,  our  enlarged 
souls  expanded  our  lately  cramped  bodies.     At  length  we 
attained  a  rising  ground  ;  and  O,  how  our  hearts  did  swell 
within  us  at  the  sight  of  the  ocean  !  that  ocean  thai  wash- 
es the  shores  qf  our  dear  America,  as  well  as  those  of 
KnglaAd.     After  taking  breath,  we  talked  in  strains  of 
rapture  to  eaeh  other.     This  ground,  said  I,   belongs  to 
the  British  ;  but  that  ocmn^  and  this  air,  and  that  sun,  are 
as  much  ours  as  theirs  ;  or   as  any  other  nations.     They 
arc  blessings  to  that  nation  which  knows  best  how  to  de- 
serve and  enjoy  them.     May  the  arm  of  bravery  secure 
ihem  all  to  us,  and  to  our  f.hildren   forever.     Long  and 
dismal  as  our  captivity  has   been,  we  declared  witli  one 
voice,  that  should  our  government  again  arm  and  declare 
war  for  "/r<?«  trade  and  sailor^s  rights,**  we  would,  in  a 
moment,  again  try  the  tug  of  war,  with  the  hard  hearted 
Britons;  but  with  the  fixed  resolution  of  never  being  tak- 
en by  tliem  alive  ;  or,  at  least,  unwounded,  or  unmutilat- 
ed.    I  see,  I  feel  that  the  love  of  country  is  our  "  ruling 
passion  $*'  and  it  is  this  that  has  and  will  give  us  the  su- 


f^:^.- 


frir 


JOURNAL. 


iiiS 


periority  in  battle,  by  land  and  by  sea,  (vhile  the  want  of 
it  will  cause  some  folks  to  recoil  before  the  American  bay- 
onet and  bullets,  as  the  British  did  at  Chippewa,  Erie, 
Plattsburg  and  New  Orleans. 

While  the  British  prisoner  retires  from  our  places  of 
confinement  in  good  health,  and  with  unwillin;;  and  reluc- 
tant step,  we,  half  famished  Americans,  fly  from  theirs  as 
from  a  pestilence,  or  a  mine  just  ready  to  explode.  If  the 
British  cannot  alter  these  feelini^s  in  the  two  nations,  her 
power  will  desert  her,  while  that  of  America  will  increase. 

After  treading  the  air,  instead  of  touching  the  ground, 
we  found  ourselves  at  the  Uevonshire  arms  in  Princetown, 
where  the  comely  bar-maid  appeared  more,  than  mortal. 
The  sight  of  her  rosy  cheeks,  shining  hair,  bright  eyes, 
and  pouting  lips,  wafted  our  imaginations,  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  across  the  atlantic  to  our  own  dear  country 
of  pretty  girls.  1  struck  the  fist  of  my  right  hand  into  the 
palm  of  my  left,  and  cried  out-—*'  6,  for  an  horse  with 
wings  P^  The  girl  stared  with  amazement,  and  concluded, 
I  guess,  that  I  was  mad  ;  for  she  looked  as  if  she  said  to 
herself — ^'^  poor  crazy  lad!  who  ever  saw  a  horse  with 
wings  r" 

We  called  for  some  winq,  and  filling  our  glasses,  drank 
to  the  power,  glory  and  honor,  and  everlasting  happiness 
of  our  beloved  country  ;  and  after  that  to  all  the  pretty 
gir}s  in  America.  During  this,  we,  now  and  then,  looked 
around  us,  to  be  certain  that  all  this  was  not  a  dream,  and 
asked  each  other  if  they  were  sure  there  wag  no  red  coat 
watching  our  movements,  or  surley  turn-key  listening  to 
our  conversation  ?  and  whether  what  we  saw  were  really 
the  walls  of  an  house,  where  ingress  and  egress  were 
equally  free  P  It  is  inconceivable  how  we  are  changed  by 
habit.  Situations  and  circumstances  ennoble  the  mind  or 
debase  it. 

From  what  I  myself  experienced,  and  saw  in  others,  on 
the  day  we  left  our  hateful  prison,  I  do  not  wonder  that 
sudden  transitions  from  the  depressing  effects  of  imprison- 
ment, sorrow,  chagrin,  impatience,  or  feelings  bordering 
on  despair,  to  that  of  liberty  and  joy,  should  so  effect  the 
vital  organs,  as  to  bring  on  a  fatal  spasm,  or  that  the  sud- 
den exhilarations  of  the  animal  spirits,  might  produce 
phrenzy.  We  were  animated  anew  with  a  moderate  por- 
tion of  generous  liquor ;  but  absolutely  intoxicated  with 


;d     !^: 


fTjfef 


^nr* 


f. 


224t 


JOURNAL. 


joy.  We  asked  a  thousaml  qiiestiong  without  waiting  for 
ail  ans\>cr.  In  the  midst  of  our  rapture  we  had  a  ine!«sa£>;c 
from  Shortland,  who  seemed  to  be  afraid  that  we  should  lie 
%n  near  him,  and  yet  out  of  his  power,  tliat  if  we  did  nut 
hasten  our  march  on  tn  Plymouth,  he  would  have  us 
brought  back  tn  prison.  At  the  sound  of  his  hateful  name, 
und  the  idea  of  his  person,  we  started  otf  like  so  many 
wild  Zebras.  We,  however,  stepped  a  little  out  of 
the  road  to  an  eminence,  to  take  another,  and  a  last  look 
of  the  Dartmoor  depot  of  misery,  when  we  saw  waving 
over  it,  the  American  flag,  like  the  colors  .sans  tache,  wav- 


ing over  the  walls  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha.     We 


gave 


three  cheers,  and  then  resumed  our  road  to  Plymouth, 
where  we  soon  after  arrived. 

While  dining  at  the  inn,  an  old  man.  in  the  next  room, 
hearing  we  were  Americans,  came  in,  and  asked  us  if  we 
knew  his  son  who  lived  in  America,  and  mentioned  his 
name.  Yes,  said  one  of  my  companions  ;  he  is  a  mechan- 
ic ;  I  think  a  carpenter — 1  know  him  very  well,  and  he  is 
a  very  clever  fellow.  The  old  man  caught  hold  of  him, 
and  shook  htm  by  the  hj!*nd  as  if  he  would  shake  his  arm 
off.  Yes,  yes,  yoii  are  right,  my  son  is  a  ship  carpenter, 
and  it  almost  broke  my  heart  when  he  went  oft*  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  a  far  country.  In  the  fullness  of  his  heart,  the 
poor  old  man  offered  to  treat  us  with  the  best  liquor  tho 
house  afforded  ;  but  we  all  excused  ourselves  and  declined 
his  generosity.  This  would  have  been  carrying  the  joke 
too  far,  for  neither  of  us  ever  had  any  knowledge  of  his 
son.  We  felt  happy  ;  and  we  thought,  if  we  thought  at 
all,  that  we  would  make  the  old  man  happy  also.  The 
£nglish  and  Americans  are  equally  addicted  (o  bantering, 
hoaxing,  quizzing,  humming,  or  by  whatever  ridiculous 
name  we  may  denote  this  more  than  ridiculous  fully.  I 
never  heard  that  tlie  French,  Germans,  Spaniards,  or 
Italians,  were  addicted  to  this  unbenevulent  wit,  if  coward- 
ly imposition  can  merit  that  name. 

As  we  strolled  through  Plymouth,  we  gazed  at  every 
thing  we  saw,  as  if  we  had  just  fallen  into  it  from  the 
moon.  In  staring  about  we  lost  our  way,  and  accosted  a 
grave  looking,  elderly  man,  who  directed  us.  As  we  ask- 
ed him  several  questions,  he  thought  he  had  a  right  to  ask 
one  of  us  ;  when,  to  our  surprise,  he  asked  us  ijf  we  had 
invjgold  to  sell  ?    We  now  perceived  that  we  had  takea 


JOURNAL. 


22d 


ting  for 
mess;ia;o 
liniiUl  lie 
did  nut 
have  us 
j|  name, 
0   many 

out   of 
ast  look 

wavmcj 
he,  wav- 
^e  gave 
ymoutli, 

d  room, 

18  if  we 

oned  his 

meelian- 

nd  he  is 

of  him, 

his  arm 

rpenter, 

seek  his 

iart,  the 

uor  the 

eelined 

le  joke 

c  of  his 

ught  at 

The 

itering, 

ieulous 

oily.     I 

ards,  or 

coward- 

t  every 
*om  the 
flsted  a 
tve  ask- 
>t  to  ask 
we  had 
d  taken 


for  our  director  one  of  the  sons  of  Abraham,  whose  home 
i»  no  where,  and  that  he  took  us  to  be  either  privateers- 
uien  or  ^M«k-pockets.  Piqued  at  this,  we  thought  we 
would  be  bveu  with  him,  and  we  a»ked  him  if  his  name 
was  nut  Shortland  ?  He  said  no.  We  asked  him  if  he 
)iud  no  relations  of  that  name.  He  enquired  if  dit  Short- 
land  vas  Jew  or  Christian  r  We  told  him  he  was  neither 
one  nor  the  other.  Den,  said  Moses,  he  must  be  Turk  ;  for 
dere  be  but  three  sort  of  peoples  in  the  vurld  ;  and  this 
set  us  a  laughing  at  the  expence  of  the  despised  Israelite, 
until  we  lost  him  in  some  of  the  dirty  alleys  of  this  noisy 
seaport. 

1  tiiept  that  night  at  the  Exchange  Coffee  House.  It 
was  so  long  since  I  had  been  cut  off  from  the  decencies  of 
life,  that  I  could  hardly  be  said  to  enjoy  them.  I  could 
not,  at  lirst,  reconcile  myself  to  the  civil  attention  of  ser- 
vants and  waiters.  At  the  hour  of  sleep,  I  was  shown  to 
such  a  bed  as  1  used  to  sleep  on  in  nty  father's  house — 
But  who  would  believe  it,  that  my  predominant  misery 
during  thist  night,  was  a  feather  bed  and  a  pillow,  render- 
ed uneasy  becaui^e  it  was  as  so^'t  as  down !  Yes,  astonish- 
ed reader  !  I  felt  about  as  uneasy  in  a  feather  bed,  as  Mr. 
Beasiey,  or  any  other  fine  London  gentleman  would,  at 
laying  on  a  plank,  or  the  ballast  of  a  transport.  Hueh  is 
the  power  of  habit,  and  such  the  effect  of  custom. 

The  next  morning  before  1  left  my  Led,  I  pondered  over 
the  events  and  conduct  of  the  preceding  day,  but  not  wilh 
satisfaction,  or  self  approbation.  The  seventh  chapter  of 
Ecelesiustes  came  fresh  to  my  mind.  I  said  to  myself, 
adversity  and  constraint  are  more  favourable  to  wisdom, 
than  liberty  and  ptnsperity;  or  to  express  it  in  better 
words — "*  Sorrow  is  better  than  laughter,  for  by  the  sadness 
of  I  he  countmance  the  heart  is  made  better  ;  and  for  this 
ntaxiin  of  wisdnin  we  are  indebted  to  a  Jew. 

We  remain<Ml  a  fortnight  lunger  in  Plyranalh,  and  learnt 
by  degrees  tu  rvli«»li  ctviKty.  We  were  kindly  noticed  by 
several  good  people,  who  seemed  to  be  rather  partial  to  us 
Amerie:ins  than  otherwi^te.  While  there,  1  heard  but  very 
little  uitered  against  America,  or  Americans  We  were 
spoken  to,  and  treated  infinitely  better  than  at  Halifax.  By 
the  time  of  our  embarkation,  which  was  the  2St\  of  April, 
1819,  w;.'  felt  considerable  attachment  to  the  people  about 
us.     We  arrived  at  New- York  the  7th  of  June  following^ 


^ 


226 


JOURNAL. 


ivithout  an  J  thin^  occurrint;  in  the  passaj^e  worth  commit' 
ting  to  pAPer,  unless  it  be  to  record  the  striking  contrast 
in  our  feelings  in  our  passage  to,  and  from  England. 

My  sensations  on  first  setting  my  foot  once  more  on  my 
native  soil,  were  such  as  I  have  not  power  to  describe. 
Tears  gushed  from  my  eyes,  and  had  1  not  been  ashamed, 
I  should  have  kneeled  down  and  kissed  the  earth  of  the 
United  States.  I  believe  similar  sensations,  more  or 
less,  fill  the  bosom  of  every  American,  on  returning  to  his 
own  country  from  British  captivity.  It  is  hardly  possible 
that  1  shall,  so  long  as  my  faculties  remain  entire,  forget 
the  horrors  of  the  British  transports,  and  several  scenes 
and  sufferings  at  Dartmoor  Prison :  yet  I  hope  to  be  able, 
before  I  quit  this  world  of  contention,  to  forgive  the  con- 
tempts, the  contumely,  the  starvations  and  filthiness  inflict- 
ed on  me  and  on  my  countrymen,  by  an  unfeeling  enemy, 
while  we  remained  in  his  power  as  prisoners  of  war^  at 
Halifax,  on  ship  board,  and  at  Dartmoor. 


RxTURN  we,  from  this  gloomy  view, 
To  native  fcenes,  of  fairer  hue. 
Land  of  our  fires !  the  Hero's  home ! 
Weary  and  fick,  to  thee  we  come ; 
The  heart  fatigued  with  foreign  woes, 
On  thy  fair  bofom  feeks  repofe 
Columbia!  hope  of  future  times ! 
Thou  wonder  of  furrounding climes! 
Thou  laft  and  only  refting  place 
Of  Freedom's  perfecuted  race! 
Hail  to  thy  confecrated  domes  ! 
Thy  fruitful  fields,  and  peaceful  homes; 
The  hunter,  thus,  who  long  has  toil'd 
O'er  mountain  rude,  and  foreft  wild. 
Turns  from  the  dark  and  cheerlefs  way, 
Where  howls  the  favage  bead  of  prey, 
To  where  yoi>  curls  of  fmoke  afpire. 
Where  brifkly  burns  his  crackling  fire ; 
Towards  his  rot  delighted  moves, 
Cheered  by  the  voice  of  thofe  he  loves, 
And  welcomed  by  domeftic  smiles, 
Sings  cheerly,  and  forgets  his  toils. 


\}  f 


POSTSCRIPT. 


i  commit' 
:  contrast 
land. 

>re  on  my 
describe, 
ashamed, 
•th  of  the 
,  more  or 
ing  to  his 
f  possible 
re,  forget 
ral  scenes 
a  be  able, 
i  the  con- 
S88  inflict* 
i£5  enemy, 
if  war,  at 


SOMG,  to  'whom  I  had  shown  my  Journai  in  manuscript,  have  thought 
that  I  had,  now  and  then,  expressed  my  feelings  too  unguardedly  against 
some  of  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  and  some  of  my  own  countrymen. 
In  consequence  of  this  friendly  remark,  I  have  struck  out  a  few 
passages,  but  have  nut  been  able  to  comply  with  all  the  wishes  of  my 
con>iexions.  But,  alter  all,  had  a  political  cant  phrase  or  two  been  omit« 
ted.  some  good  people  would  have  been  gratiPud,  and  the  publication 
not  the  worse  for  it.  I  have  severely  suffered,  felt  keenly,  anil  express- 
ed myself  honestly,  and  without  malice  I  may  not  have  made  due  al' 
lowance  for  the  conduct  of  certain  officers  and  agents.  I  may  not  have 
entered,  as  far  as  1  oue^ht,  into  their  situations;  and  there  might  have 
been  reasons  and  excuses,  that  ray  chafed  feelings  prevented  me  from 
attending  to.  If  so,  the  coul  and  candid  reader  both  here,  and  on  the 
other  side  the  athntic,  will  make  that  allowance  which  I  could  hardly 
make  myself  I  must,  nevertheless,  maintain,  that  I  have  expressed  the 
feelings  of  the  moment,  and  cannot  now  honestly  alter  my  language;  for 
whenever  my  soul  culls  up  many  occurrences  in  my  captivity,  m^  tongue 
and  my  pen  will  be  found  the  laithful  organs  of  my  feelings. 

I  have  endeavored  to  give  due  credit  to  the  humane  conduct  of  severe 
al  sailors,  soldiers,  and  private  subjects  of  the  enemy  But,  if,  at  this 
period  of  peace,  when  it  may  be  supposed  that  resentment  was  cooled 
down,  I  try  to  obliterate  the  impressions  made  by  ci  uelty  and  by  cotI' 
tempt,  and  find  I  cannot  then  must  the  reader  take  it  as  a  trait  of  the 
imperfect  character  of  a  young  man,  on  whose  mind  adversity  has  not 
had  its  best  effect. 

If  an  animosity  actually  exists  between  the  Bnglish  and  Americans, 
do  you  mend  the  mittcr  by  denying  tlie  fact?  This  aniuiosily  has  been 
avowed  to  exist,  within  a  few  months  past,  in  the  parliament  of  England. 
The  following  article  is  extracted  from  a  London  paper.  In  a  debate, 
(Feb  I4th,  1816)  a  member  said,  *'the  spirit  of  animosity  in  America, 
would  justify  an  increase  of  the  naval  force  in  the  West  Indies.*'  This 
called  up  Lord  Castlereagh,  who  said — •'  .\8  to  .\merica,  if  it  is  said 
great  prejudices  exist  there  against  us,  it  must  be  recollected  that  great 
prejudices  exisi  here  against  her.  It  was,"  he  said,  '*  his  most  ardent 
wish  to  discountenance  this  feeling  on  both  sides,  and  to  promote  be- 
tween the  two  nations  feelings  of  reciprocal  amity  and  regard  " 

What  ha«  occasioned  this  avowed  animosity  in  us  towards  the  British  ? 
Our  merchants,  generally,  feel  not  this  animosity :  neither  is  it  to  be 
found,  in  a  great  degree,  amongst  our  legislators  How  came  we  bv  ill 
Oar  sailors  and  our  soldiers,  who  have  been  in  British  prisons,  and  on 
hoard  Britisii  men  of  war,  and  transports,  have  brought  with  them  this 
animosity  home  to  their  families  and  their  friends.  They  tell  them  their 
own  stories  in  their  own  a.'tless,  and  sometimes  exaggerated  way,  and 
these  are  reported  with,  probably,  hi^h  coloring,  whereas,  1  have  made 
it  a  point  of  honor,  a  matter  of  conscience,  and  a  rule  of  justice,  to  ad- 
here to  truth ;  and  am  contented  that  the  British  reader  should  s.tv  all 
that  fairness  admits,  to  soften  down  the  coloring  of  some  pictures  of  Brit- 
ish barbarity,  provided  he  does  not  attempt  to  impeach  my  veracity. 

Beside  individual  animosity,  there  may  possibly  be  a  lurking  national 
one,  thinly  covered  over  with  the  fashionable  mantle  of  courtesy  The 
conflicting  interests  of  the  two  nations  may  endanger  peace.  The  source 
of  national  aggrandizement  in  both  nations,  is  commerce  ;  and  the  higlt 
road  to  tliem  the  ocean.  We  and  the  British  are  travelling  the  same 
way,  ill  keen  pursuit  of  the  same  objects  ;  and  it  is  scarcely  probable, 
that  we  shall  be  preserved  in  a  state  of  peace  by  abstract  love  of  justice. 
I  have  been  disposed  to  allow  that  the  conduct  of  our  oountrymen^ 


M 

\ 


n^' 


22S 


JOURKAL. 


■while  on  boart^  the  prison  ships  and  at  Dartmoor,  was,  at  times,  pro- 
voking to  the  British  officers  set  over  them,  but  never  malignant,  much 
less,  bio  xly.  It  could  be  always  traced  to  a  spirit  of fuii  and  i'rolic",  which 
our  people  indulge  in  beyond  all  others  in  the  world  ;  and  this  ought  to 
be  considered  as  one  of  the  luxuriant  shoots  of  our  tree  of  liberty  i  for. 
it  is  too  harsh  to  call  it  an  excrescence.  It  shows  the  strength,  depth 
and  extent  of  its  roots,  und  ihe  richness  of  the  soil. 

This  Journal  has  not  been  publisbcd  to  increHse  the  animosity  now 
subsisting  between  the  American  and  liritish  people.  So  far  from  it, 
the  writer  pleases  himst  If  with  the  idea  that  this  publication  may  reme- 
dy  the  evils  complained  of,  «>r  mitigate  ;ht.-m  ;  and  cut  oil'  the  source  of 
deep  complaint  against  the  English,  for  their  treatment  of  prisoners, 
should  war  lage  again  between  the  two  nations.  If  tlu?  present  race  of 
.Britons  have  not  become  indifferent  to  a  sense  of  nati  r.al  chavacter, 
their  government  will  take  measures  to  wipe  off  the  stfiin  from  her  gar- 
ments. Let  the  nations  of  Europe  ittquire  how  the  Americans  treat 
their  prisoners  of  war  If  we  treat  them  m  ith  barbarity  publish  our  dis- 
grace to  the  wide  world,  «n«l  speak  of  us  accordingly.  Let  them,  at  the 
same  time,  inquire  how  tht^  English  treated  those  of  us  who  have  had 
the  great  misfortune  of  falling  into  their  hands ;  and  let  them  be  sp<  ken 
of  accordingly.  My  serious  opinion  is,  that  this  little  book  will  aid  the 
great  cause  of  hum^mity. 

Although  I,  with  some  thousands  of  my  countrymen,  wpre  inclosed  in 
a  large  prison  during  the  greater  part  of  the  war,  itfaied  wilt  us  as 
with  those  people  who  seldom  go  out  of  their  houses,  who  hear  more 
news  than  those  who  are  abroad  in  the  world  It  was,  h'twcver,  pretty 
much  all  of  «»ne  sort;  for  we  seldom  saw  any  other  American  news  pa- 
pers, than  those  of  tne  federal,  or  opj;ositio»  party.  These  were  gen- 
erally filled  with  abuse  of  the  Presiie'  t,  and  of  the  government  gen- 
erally, and  with  praises  nf  the  Englisb,  which,  in  our  situation,  produc- 
ed a  strong  sensation,  as  our  support,  our  protection,  our  pri«le,  our 
honor  were  identifii.d  in  the  person  of  the  President,  and  his  adminis- 
tration. The  efforts  of  the  federal  party  in  Massachusetts  to  embarrass 
and  tie  the  hands  of  our  government,  and  disgrace  itsbra\e  officers,  cre- 
ated in  us  all  a  hatred  of  the  very  name  oi  federalism  1  record  the 
fact,  and  appeal  to  all  the  prisoners  who  have  now  leturned  home,  to 
confirm  my  assertion  ,  and  I  drclare  (  have  erased  not  a  little  on  this 
head  out  of  courtesy  to  a  large  an«l  sanguine  party,  who  have  erred,  and 
strayed  from  the  right  way,  hjf  not  knowing  the  true  character  of  the 
English. 

I  feel  no  animesityi,  or  disrespect  to  any  gentleman  of  the  federal,  or 
opposition  party  ;  but  they  must  excuse  me  for  remarking  that  their 
conduct,  and  their  sentiments,  as  they  appeared  in  messages,  proclama- 
tions, speeches  and  resolves,  and  their  combii  ations  for  withholding  loans 
of  money  from  government,  wuh  their  denunciations  of  a  war,  w  aged 
professedly,  and  as  we  knew,  really,  fc.r  "  lSailor''s  Jiiffhts,'''  madt  an 
impression  on  our  minds  so  decided!}  against  >he  federalists,  thai  the 
yery  term t  federalism,  was  with  us  a//,  without  one  sir.gle  except  on, 
a  term  of  deep  reproadi.  L'-t  him  who  doubts  it  ask  any  piisoner  who 
made  a  part  of  the  six  thousand  cciifuted  in  England  during  the  two 
years  of  our  late  bitter  war  with  K!>glar.d,  and  he  will  be  satisfied  that 
I  have  •'  nothing  extenuated,  or  set  down  aught  in  malice." 

1  hope  and  pray  for  union  among  ourselves  ;  and  that  all  party  names 
and  distinctions,  may  be  lost  in  that  of  AMEUICANS. 

"  Henceforth  let  IVhiq'  and  Tory  cease, 
•*  And  turn  all  |)arty  rage  to  peace  : 
"  House  and  revi»e  your  ancient  glory, 
"  UNI  TE,  and  dritg  the  -world  before  you  .'" 


'#* 


.Vi^M 


'/■< 


W-, 


imes,  pro- 
ant,  much 
olic",  M'liich 
is  ought  to 
herty  f  f<ir. 
gth,  depth 

losity  now 
r  from  it, 
nay  renie- 
;  source  of 
prisoners, 
ut  race  of 
character, 
11  her  gar- 
catis  treat 
sh  our  tlis- 
im,  at  the 
have  had 
be  sp-ken 
ill  aid  the 

nclosed  in 
Mill  us  as 
lear  more 
er,  pretty 
I  news  pa- 
were  gen- 
ment  gen- 
),  produc- 
[)ii«)e,  our 
s  adniinis- 
■inbairass 
cers,  cre- 
leord  the 
home,  to 
Ic  on  this 
rred,  and 
ler  of  the 


J 

f- 


ederal,  or 
that  tiicir 
)roclaina- 
iing  loans 
U-,  waged 
nri:ul(  an 
that  the 
xcept  on, 
r)ner  who 
',  the  two 
iiiied  that 

ty  names 


■  r  ^    ^ 


